Variegated Cutworm vs Doris Longwing
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Variegated Cutworm | Doris Longwing |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Peridroma saucia | Heliconius doris |
| Order | Lepidoptera | Lepidoptera |
| Family | Noctuidae | Nymphalidae |
| Size | 40-55 mm wingspan | 65-80 mm wingspan |
| Habitat | Farmland | Forests |
| Diet | Seed Feeders | Nectar Feeders |
| Regions | Worldwide | South America (Brazil, Peru, Colombia, Ecuador, Bolivia) |
| Conservation | Not Evaluated | Least Concern |
Variegated Cutworm
A mottled brown moth whose plump soil-dwelling caterpillars cut through stems of seedlings at ground level. It attacks a very wide range of vegetables and field crops.
Did You Know?
A single caterpillar can cut down several seedlings in one night, often felling far more plants than it actually eats.
Doris Longwing
A highly variable Heliconius butterfly that occurs in multiple color forms including blue, red, and green morphs. All forms share the same basic wing shape but differ dramatically in color pattern. It inhabits the understory of dense tropical forests.
Did You Know?
A single population can contain blue, red, and green color morphs, all controlled by a single genetic switch, making it a model for studying wing pattern evolution.