Tobacco Moth vs Orange-tip

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Tobacco Moth Orange-tip
Scientific Name Ephestia elutella Anthocharis cardamines
Order Lepidoptera Lepidoptera
Family Pyralidae Pieridae
Size 8-11 mm body; 14-20 mm wingspan 38-48 mm wingspan
Habitat Indoors Woodlands
Diet Fruit Feeders Nectar Feeders
Regions Worldwide in temperate and subtropical regions Europe, Asia
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

Tobacco Moth

A small greyish-brown moth that primarily infests stored tobacco but also attacks cocoa, cereals, and dried fruits. It is cold-tolerant and problematic in temperate warehouse environments.

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Did You Know?

It is more cold-hardy than most stored product moths and can complete development at temperatures as low as 15 degrees Celsius.

Orange-tip

Males have bright orange wingtips; females are plain white with black tips. A herald of spring in European woodlands.

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Did You Know?

Males patrol hedgerows searching for freshly emerged females, never visiting the same flower patch twice.