Cream Wave vs Numata Longwing
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Cream Wave | Numata Longwing |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Scopula floslactata | Heliconius numata |
| Order | Lepidoptera | Lepidoptera |
| Family | Geometridae | Nymphalidae |
| Size | 24-28 mm wingspan | 60-75 mm wingspan |
| Habitat | Woodlands | Forests |
| Diet | Herbivores | Nectar Feeders |
| Regions | Europe | South America (Brazil, Peru, Ecuador, Colombia, Bolivia) |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
Cream Wave
A delicate cream-white moth with subtle cross-lines. Found in deciduous woodland and hedgerows. Larvae feed on dead leaves and withered vegetation.
Did You Know?
One of several 'wave' moths that feed on dead leaves rather than living plant tissue.
Numata Longwing
A remarkable butterfly that exists in over a dozen wing pattern forms, each mimicking a different species of toxic Melinaea butterfly. Despite their different appearances, all forms belong to the same species. Wing pattern variation is controlled by a supergene on a single chromosome.
Did You Know?
Its wing pattern diversity is controlled by a chromosomal inversion that acts as a supergene, one of the best-studied examples of this genetic mechanism.