Tersa Sphinx Moth vs Large Blue

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Tersa Sphinx Moth Large Blue
Scientific Name Xylophanes tersa Phengaris arion
Order Lepidoptera Lepidoptera
Family Sphingidae Lycaenidae
Size 60-80 mm 38-52 mm wingspan
Habitat Woodlands Grasslands
Diet Nectar Feeders Omnivores
Regions Southern United States, Central America, South America Europe, temperate Asia
Conservation Least Concern Near Threatened

Tersa Sphinx Moth

A sleek hawk moth with narrow, pointed forewings in lavender-gray with darker streaks. It is a fast and agile flier found throughout the Americas.

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Did You Know?

The tersa sphinx caterpillar has a series of large eyespots along its body that create a convincing snake-mimic appearance.

Large Blue

A blue butterfly with distinctive black spots that has one of the most complex life cycles in the insect world. It was declared extinct in Britain in 1979 but has been successfully reintroduced.

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Did You Know?

Caterpillars trick ants into carrying them into their nests, where they feed on ant larvae for ten months.