Fall Webworm vs Chrysomelid Leaf Beetle

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Fall Webworm Chrysomelid Leaf Beetle
Scientific Name Hyphantria cunea Chrysolina staphylaea
Order Lepidoptera Coleoptera
Family Erebidae Chrysomelidae
Size 25-42 mm wingspan 5-7 mm
Habitat Grasslands Farmland
Diet Herbivores Herbivores
Regions North America, Europe, Asia Western Europe
Conservation Not Evaluated Least Concern

Fall Webworm

A native North American moth whose caterpillars build communal silk webs on tree branches. It has become invasive in Europe and Asia.

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Did You Know?

Unlike tent caterpillars, fall webworm nests enclose the foliage the larvae are feeding on.

Chrysomelid Leaf Beetle

A small, strongly convex beetle with dark reddish-brown to almost black coloration and a smooth, shiny surface. It is one of the commonest Chrysolina species in Western Europe.

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Did You Know?

It is one of the first beetles to become active in late winter, sometimes emerging in February when temperatures are still quite cold.