Waved Sphinx Moth vs Small Brown Forestfly

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Waved Sphinx Moth Small Brown Forestfly
Scientific Name Ceratomia undulosa Nemoura avicularis
Order Lepidoptera Plecoptera
Family Sphingidae Nemouridae
Size 75-100 mm 5-8 mm
Habitat Woodlands Woodlands
Diet Nectar Feeders Detritivores
Regions Eastern North America Europe
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.

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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.

Small Brown Forestfly

A small brown stonefly of European woodland streams that emerges in spring. Nymphs are detritivores feeding on submerged leaf litter.

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Did You Know?

Adults fold their wings flat over the body like a fan, unlike most stoneflies that fold wings along the sides.