Teak Defoliator Moth vs Golden Orchid Bee

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Teak Defoliator Moth Golden Orchid Bee
Scientific Name Hyblaea puera Eufriesea surinamensis
Order Lepidoptera Hymenoptera
Family Hyblaeidae Apidae
Size 30-40 mm wingspan 18-24 mm
Habitat Farmland Forests
Diet Nectar Feeders Nectar Feeders
Regions South Asia (India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Nepal) Suriname, Brazil, French Guiana, Venezuela, Central America
Conservation Least Concern Not Evaluated

Teak Defoliator Moth

A medium-sized moth with orange-brown forewings and bright orange hindwings bordered in black. Its caterpillars are the most devastating defoliators of teak plantations across South Asia, stripping trees bare.

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Did You Know?

During outbreak years, entire teak forests turn brown as millions of caterpillars strip every leaf, though the trees typically refoliate.

Golden Orchid Bee

A stunningly beautiful orchid bee with a metallic golden-green body and reddish legs. It is a solitary nester that builds cells from resin and plant material.

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Did You Know?

Females construct their nest cells from tree resin, which has natural antimicrobial properties that protect developing larvae.