Vampire Moth vs Green Drake Mayfly

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Vampire Moth Green Drake Mayfly
Scientific Name Calyptra thalictri Ephemera guttulata
Order Lepidoptera Ephemeroptera
Family Erebidae Ephemeridae
Size Wingspan 40-50mm 18-25 mm
Habitat Rivers & Streams Rivers & Streams
Diet Blood Feeders Omnivores
Regions Europe, Asia Eastern North America
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

Vampire Moth

A dull grey-brown moth with a uniquely evolved proboscis capable of piercing mammalian skin. Males occasionally drink blood for sodium.

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Did You Know?

It is one of the only moths known to drink blood from mammals including humans using its hardened barbed proboscis.

Green Drake Mayfly

A large and strikingly beautiful mayfly with mottled wings that emerges in late spring. Its hatches on eastern North American streams create some of the year's best fly-fishing opportunities.

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Did You Know?

Green drake hatches trigger a feeding frenzy among trout, with even the largest fish rising to the surface.