Warehouse Beetle vs Japanese Silk Moth

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Warehouse Beetle Japanese Silk Moth
Scientific Name Trogoderma variabile Antheraea yamamai
Order Coleoptera Lepidoptera
Family Dermestidae Saturniidae
Size 2-3.5 mm Wingspan 110-150 mm
Habitat Indoors Indoors
Diet Seed Feeders Herbivores
Regions North America, Australia, Europe Japan, Korea, China
Conservation Least Concern Not Evaluated

Warehouse Beetle

A stored product beetle closely related to the khapra beetle that infests grain, cereals, and dried foods. Its hairy larvae contaminate food products and can cause allergic reactions.

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Did You Know?

It is so similar to the quarantine-regulated khapra beetle that expert identification is needed to tell them apart.

Japanese Silk Moth

A large wild silk moth native to Japan with striking yellow-brown wings bearing prominent eyespots. Its silk was historically used to produce high-quality tensan fabric.

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Did You Know?

Its silk, called tensan, is naturally green-tinged and was reserved for Japanese imperial garments.