Waved Sphinx Moth vs Firethorn Leaf Miner
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Waved Sphinx Moth | Firethorn Leaf Miner |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Ceratomia undulosa | Phyllonorycter leucographella |
| Order | Lepidoptera | Lepidoptera |
| Family | Sphingidae | Gracillariidae |
| Size | 75-100 mm | 7-8 mm wingspan |
| Habitat | Woodlands | Underground |
| Diet | Nectar Feeders | Herbivores |
| Regions | Eastern North America | Southern Europe, spreading north |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
Waved Sphinx Moth
A large gray hawk moth with wavy dark lines across the forewings, providing superb bark camouflage. It is one of the most commonly encountered sphingids at lights in eastern North America.
Did You Know?
The waved sphinx is so common at porch lights in the eastern US that it is often the first sphinx moth most people encounter.
Firethorn Leaf Miner
A tiny moth whose larvae create blister mines on pyracantha leaves. Originally from southern Europe, it has spread rapidly northward. Mines cause silvery blotches on leaves.
Did You Know?
First recorded in Britain in 1989 and spread across the country within a decade on planted pyracantha hedges.