Wallaces Golden Birdwing vs Malaysian Moon Moth
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Wallaces Golden Birdwing | Malaysian Moon Moth |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Ornithoptera croesus | Actias maenas |
| Order | Lepidoptera | Lepidoptera |
| Family | Papilionidae | Saturniidae |
| Size | 160-190 mm wingspan | 100-130 mm wingspan |
| Habitat | Forests | Forests |
| Diet | Nectar Feeders | Herbivores |
| Regions | Asia | Southeast Asia (Malaysia, Indonesia, Borneo, Sumatra, Java) |
| Conservation | Near Threatened | Least Concern |
Wallaces Golden Birdwing
Named after Alfred Russel Wallace, who called it the finest specimen he ever captured. Males are brilliant orange-gold and black. Found only in North Maluku, Indonesia.
Did You Know?
Wallace was so overwhelmed by catching this butterfly in 1859 that he wrote his head began to ache and he felt close to fainting from the beauty of the creature.
Malaysian Moon Moth
A large, pale green silk moth with long, twisted tails on the hindwings. The wings are adorned with translucent eyespots and bordered with a rich maroon-brown leading edge.
Did You Know?
The long twisted hindwing tails are thought to confuse bat echolocation, spinning in flight to create misleading sonar echoes.