White Underwing vs Scarlet-Bodied Pergid Sawfly
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | White Underwing | Scarlet-Bodied Pergid Sawfly |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Catocala relicta | Perga kirbyi |
| Order | Lepidoptera | Hymenoptera |
| Family | Erebidae | Pergidae |
| Size | 70-85 mm wingspan | 16-24 mm |
| Habitat | Woodlands | Woodlands |
| Diet | Sap Feeders | Herbivores |
| Regions | Northern United States and southern Canada | Australia |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
White Underwing
A striking underwing moth with white and black banded forewings that mimics birch bark. Its hindwings are black with broad white bands.
Did You Know?
It is one of the only underwing moths with white rather than colored hindwings, matching the white bark of its birch tree hosts.
Scarlet-Bodied Pergid Sawfly
A large, robustly built Australian sawfly with a bright scarlet to red-orange abdomen and dark head and thorax. Its spitfire larvae feed on eucalyptus in tight clusters.
Did You Know?
Adult females demonstrate rare parental care for an insect by guarding their egg batch and early-instar larvae on the eucalyptus leaf.