Silver-spotted Ghost Moth vs Cockchafer
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Silver-spotted Ghost Moth | Cockchafer |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Sthenopis argenteomaculatus | Melolontha melolontha |
| Order | Lepidoptera | Coleoptera |
| Family | Hepialidae | Scarabaeidae |
| Size | 60-75 mm wingspan | 25-30 mm |
| Habitat | Rivers & Streams | Farmland |
| Diet | Root Feeders | Root Feeders |
| Regions | Eastern North America | Western Europe, Central Europe, Northern Europe |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
Silver-spotted Ghost Moth
A large ghost moth from North America with silver-spotted wings. Caterpillars bore into the roots of alder trees, taking two years to develop. Adults emerge for brief nocturnal mating flights.
Did You Know?
Larvae spend up to two years boring through alder tree roots in waterlogged soil before pupating.
Cockchafer
A large, clumsy-flying chafer beetle that emerges en masse on warm May evenings. Its white C-shaped larvae are familiar agricultural pests across Europe.
Did You Know?
In medieval Europe, cockchafer swarms were so destructive that they were once put on trial in court.