Clara's Satin Moth vs Giant Swallowtail of the Andes

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Clara's Satin Moth Giant Swallowtail of the Andes
Scientific Name Thalaina clara Papilio thoas
Order Lepidoptera Lepidoptera
Family Geometridae Papilionidae
Size 40-50 mm wingspan 110-140 mm wingspan
Habitat Woodlands Rivers & Streams
Diet Herbivores Nectar Feeders
Regions Eastern Australia, Tasmania South America (Brazil, Argentina, Colombia, Venezuela, Peru, Ecuador, Bolivia)
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

Clara's Satin Moth

An Australian moth with satiny white wings marked with orange bands. Found in eastern Australia and Tasmania. Caterpillars feed on acacia foliage.

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Did You Know?

The satiny sheen of the wings gives this moth an almost luminous quality when seen in Australian bush at night.

Giant Swallowtail of the Andes

One of the largest swallowtail butterflies in South America, with bold yellow and black striped wings and long tail streamers. It is a powerful flier that ranges from sea level to over 2000 m in the Andes. Larvae mimic bird droppings as a defense mechanism.

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Did You Know?

When threatened, the caterpillar everts a bright red forked organ called an osmeterium from behind its head, releasing a foul-smelling chemical.