Ant Beetle vs Twin-spotted Sphinx Moth

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Ant Beetle Twin-spotted Sphinx Moth
Scientific Name Thanasimus formicarius Smerinthus jamaicensis
Order Coleoptera Lepidoptera
Family Cleridae Sphingidae
Size 7-10mm 55-80 mm
Habitat Woodlands Woodlands
Diet Predators Omnivores
Regions Europe, Asia North America
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

Ant Beetle

A brightly colored red and black bark beetle predator that mimics ants. It hunts bark beetles on pine trees.

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Did You Know?

An important natural enemy of bark beetles used in integrated pest management of conifer forests.

Twin-spotted Sphinx Moth

A medium-sized hawk moth with scalloped gray-brown forewings and blue and black eyespots on the hindwings. When threatened, it reveals these spots in a startling flash display.

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Did You Know?

The twin-spotted sphinx can raise its body temperature to 35 degrees Celsius through rapid wing vibrations before taking flight on cool nights.