Teak Defoliator Moth vs Malay Green Lacewing
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Teak Defoliator Moth | Malay Green Lacewing |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Hyblaea puera | Mallada basalis |
| Order | Lepidoptera | Neuroptera |
| Family | Hyblaeidae | Chrysopidae |
| Size | 30-40 mm wingspan | 14-20 mm wingspan |
| Habitat | Farmland | Farmland |
| Diet | Nectar Feeders | Predators |
| Regions | South Asia (India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Nepal) | Southeast Asia, Taiwan, Southern China |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
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.
Did You Know?
During outbreak years, entire teak forests turn brown as millions of caterpillars strip every leaf, though the trees typically refoliate.
Malay Green Lacewing
A tropical Asian lacewing with a greenish body and dark wing venation. Commercially reared in Taiwan for pest control in greenhouses.
Did You Know?
Taiwanese farmers release this species in nethouses to protect strawberry and vegetable crops.