White Plume Moth vs Pearl Charaxes
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | White Plume Moth | Pearl Charaxes |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Pterophorus pentadactyla | Charaxes varanes |
| Order | Lepidoptera | Lepidoptera |
| Family | Pterophoridae | Nymphalidae |
| Size | 25-30 mm wingspan | 55-70 mm wingspan |
| Habitat | Farmland | Underground |
| Diet | Herbivores | Sap Feeders |
| Regions | Europe | Sub-Saharan Africa |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
White Plume Moth
A delicate pure white moth with deeply divided wings that split into feather-like plumes. Often seen resting on walls at night with wings held out like a letter T. Caterpillars feed on hedge bindweed.
Did You Know?
Its wings are divided into five feather-like plumes on each side, giving it one of the most unusual wing forms of any moth.
Pearl Charaxes
A medium-sized charaxes butterfly with pearly white underwings and tawny-orange uppersides. It is one of the most common charaxes in southern Africa.
Did You Know?
Unlike most butterflies, charaxes are attracted to rotting fruit and animal droppings rather than flowers.