Zodiac Moth vs Chinese Oak Silk Moth

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Zodiac Moth Chinese Oak Silk Moth
Scientific Name Alcides metaurus Antheraea pernyi
Order Lepidoptera Lepidoptera
Family Uraniidae Saturniidae
Size 8-10 cm wingspan 110-150 mm wingspan
Habitat Forests Farmland
Diet Nectar Feeders Omnivores
Regions Australia, Papua New Guinea China, introduced to parts of Europe
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

Zodiac Moth

A spectacular day-flying moth with iridescent green and black wings resembling a swallowtail butterfly. It migrates in large numbers through north Queensland rainforests.

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Did You Know?

Its brilliant green wing color is produced by microscopic light-refracting structures, not pigment.

Chinese Oak Silk Moth

A large tawny-brown silk moth with prominent translucent eyespots on each wing. It has been cultivated for thousands of years to produce tussah silk.

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Did You Know?

It is the second most important silk-producing insect after the domestic silkworm, producing a durable golden-brown silk.