The Dark Side - Butterfly Gear

The Lepidoptera Log - by Steve Woodhall

The Dark Side

90% of Lepidoptera are NOT butterflies

We are most familiar with the butterflies we encounter in our parks, gardens, and nature reserves. Their bright colours and fascinating behaviour delight our eyes. Yet, did you know that butterflies account for only 10% of the biodiversity within the Lepidoptera?

The remaining 90% are grouped together as moths.

Moths have carried a dubious reputation for centuries. Because many are nocturnal and dull-coloured, they are often ignored at best and, at worst, viewed with superstition or even fear. Since a tiny number of species feed on animal materials like wool, all moths are suspected of wanting to eat our clothes! Their attraction to bright lights is well known, and that’s how most people encounter them – as a morning visitor on the wall.

In the past, moths were seen as the nocturnal, dull counterparts of butterflies. Over time, however, we have learned more about them and gained a better understanding of their true complexity.

Lepidoptera is made up of a number of ‘superfamilies’, each defined by certain broad anatomical characteristics. These are not always obvious to the layperson. The old question, “What’s the difference between a butterfly and a moth?” has become more difficult to answer. I have attempted to demystify it in this short course.

Globally, there are about 46 superfamilies within the Lepidoptera (though opinions vary), of which only one—the Papilionoidea—contains all known butterfly species. Of these, around 30 are found in southern Africa.

Within those superfamilies are species ranging from dull and nocturnal to brilliantly coloured and diurnal (day-flying). This is true not only for butterflies but also for moths. Moths vary in size from almost microscopic to huge—much larger than the biggest butterfly.

To put this into perspective, while there are nearly 700 butterfly species found in South Africa, there are almost 10,000 species of moths. About 70% of these belong to five superfamilies. We’ll explore a few examples here.

Let’s start with the Geometroidea superfamily which derives its name from the appearance and behaviour of its caterpillars. The term ‘earth measurer’ references their distinctive ‘looping’ movement, which has also led to the common name ‘inchworms.’ The Munda Bark caterpillar exemplifies this group, though many species are more slender or possess additional legs.

Geometroidea is an extensive superfamily, comprising over 24,000 species worldwide, with nearly 1,600 recorded in southern Africa across three families. All species mentioned here belong to the family Geometridae, which is further divided into six subfamilies in the region.

Members of Geometridae display considerable diversity in shape, structure, resting posture, and coloration. For instance, the Munda Bark moth mimics lichen patches on tree bark, providing effective camouflage; while conspicuous against foliage, these moths become nearly invisible on lichen-covered bark.

Many Geometridae exhibit green or blue-green coloration, sometimes accented with contrasting red, yellow, or orange markings. The Pink-laced Concealer is among the more visually striking species that are attracted to lights and often observed on walls at dawn.

The Leopard Magpie is a diurnal moth whose larvae consume cycad leaves, making them familiar—if occasionally unwelcome—to gardeners. These caterpillars sequester toxins from their host plants, which persist into adulthood, rendering both life stages unpalatable to predators. Their vivid yellow-orange coloration with black spots functions as aposematic signalling, warning potential predators of their distastefulness.

These are usually quite small moths, ranging in size from wingspans as small as 10mm to 80mm in the largest species.

Noctuoidea is the largest superfamily in the Lepidoptera by some margin. It has about 70 000 species in 5-7 families depending on which taxonomist you agree with. There are just over 3000 species in South Africa, in five families. These are enormously diverse creatures both as adults and as caterpillars.

The species above are all in the family Noctuidae. This has just over 1000 species locally in about 15 subfamilies. Many have the classic ‘moth’ posture with the wings folded over their back like a roof. Also, many are dull little brown jobs like the Amaryllis Borer (which is the one whose caterpillar eats your Clivias)! There are many attractive species as you can see. The Tunnel Droplet has the most amazing shadowed wing markings that make it look like an empty seed pod that’s fallen on the ground. Festive Red Tigers have aposematic warning colouring that advertises their bad tasting nature. They carry irritant chemicals in their blood, that they can squirt from their thorax. This can raise blisters on sensitive skin and the smell has given them the alternative name of ‘Bacon Moth’.

The Golden Plusia has beautiful metallic green panels on its forewings. In some parts of the world it has the name of ‘Burnished Brass Moth’. Pale Cherry Spot is another species with warning colouring. The brightly coloured caterpillars eat geophytes in the Liliaceae and Hyacinthaceae that carry potent plant toxins.

Most of these are fairly small insects with a wingspan of 20-30mm but there are a few large ones nearly 80mm across the wings.

Erebidae constitutes the largest family within Noctuoidea, comprising over 1,500 species distributed across 18 regional subfamilies that exhibit significant diversity. Some groups, such as Arctiinae (commonly known as Tiger Moths), were previously considered separate families, but recent taxonomic revisions have reclassified their former subfamilies into ‘tribes’. Notable members of Arctiinae, including the White Frother and Beautiful Tiger found in the tribe Arctiini, contribute to Arctiinae’s status as the most speciose subfamily among South African Erebidae, with just over 400 species.

The subfamily Calpinae features some of the world’s most distinctive moths. For example, Dot Underwing, a moth with a wingspan reaching up to 90mm, conceals its vivid yellow hindwings beneath forewings marked with patterns resembling dead leaves; when disturbed, it reveals its hindwings to startle and deter predators. This species belongs to the group known as ‘fruit piercing’ moths, which utilise their proboscis to consume fruit juices. Related species may even drink avian tears, and in South America, certain calpines such as the Vampire Moth Calyptra thalictri display hematophagous (bloodsucking) behaviour. The Dot Underwing also possesses an unusually striking caterpillar: jet black in colour, it displays prominent eyespots by ingesting air and swelling noticeably.

Erebinae represents the second largest subfamily of Erebidae with just under 300 species. Many members are nocturnal and characterised by dull brown coloration; Walker’s Owl, the largest Erebid in Africa, boasts a wingspan of up to 140mm. In contrast, the diurnally active Peach Moth exhibits vibrant colouring and has a preference for both flower nectar and fermenting fruits. Though outwardly similar to typical moths, this species is frequently mistaken for a butterfly.

Lymantriinae, or Tussock Moths, comprise another subfamily formerly regarded as an independent family. With 241 species, it ranks third in size within Erebidae. Caterpillars in this group possess defensive hairs arranged in ‘tussocks’ on their dorsal side, capable of causing irritation. Adult Lymantriinae often present feather-like, or ‘pectinate’, antennae. Georgiana’s Tussock is commonly encountered in eastern regions of the country.

Banner Eublemma is a member of Boletobiinae, which is the third largest subfamily, encompassing 232 species. These moths are typically small, with wingspans ranging from 10 to 30mm, and many feature an appealing ‘two-tone’ colouration.

There are three smaller families within the Noctuoidea, two of which are the Euteliidae and Notodontidae. The Euteliidae family consists of mostly brown or cream coloured species; one of the larger and more beautiful species (with a wingspan up to 55mm) is the Venus Turntail. These moths are nocturnal and are strongly attracted to fermenting fruit baits.

The Notodontidae family includes nearly 240 species, which are generally drab coloured, though some, such as the Giant Prominent and Spirited Puss, have distinct appearances. Notodontid caterpillars display a range of shapes, with some exhibiting unique features, like the Spirited Puss caterpillar, which is shaped unusually and has long, whip-like tails that can release formic acid.

The Pyraloidea superfamily encompasses nearly 1,200 species within two local families: Crambidae and Pyralidae. The Crambidae are more prominent, featuring two major subfamilies, Crambinae (142 species) and Spilomelinae (217 species). Members of the Crambinae, commonly referred to as Grass Moths, are generally small, with a typical wingspan of approximately 20mm, and display subdued coloration. The Dotted White Veneer serves as a representative example, frequently observed flying low amid grass.

Spilomelinae, known as Pearls, are distinguished by their striking appearance despite their modest size. While primarily nocturnal, many species are also active during daylight hours. Certain species, such as the Bi-triangle Pearl, are attracted to artificial lights and can be found resting on walls. Others, including the Zebra Pyrale and Florid Pearl, inhabit forest undergrowth and take flight when disturbed, often settling beneath leaves with their bodies aligned downward—a behaviour that presents challenges for photographers.

The Gelechioidea is a large superfamily numbering about 1250 species of mostly tiny moths, many of which are ‘micros’ and are seldom noticed. It consists of 15 families. When viewed under a hand lens or high-powered macro lens they can be surprisingly attractive. Two examples are the Three-Spotted Joyful Moth from the family Scythrididae, and the Dotted Ethmia from the family Elachistidae.

Bombycoidea, while not the largest superfamily within Lepidoptera, is smaller than Papilionoidea (the butterflies) in South Africa, comprising 540 species across six families. Nevertheless, it encompasses some of the largest and most visually striking representatives among moths.

The Eupterotidae, commonly referred to as ‘Monkey’ moths, is one of the smaller families, with 84 known local species. These moths typically range from medium to large in size and are characterized by their soft, fuzzy appearance. Their coloration is predominantly cream to brown with darker markings, although a minority of species are white. Similar to many members of Bombycoidea, adult Eupterotidae lack a functional proboscis and are therefore unable to feed; all nutritional reserves necessary for adulthood are accumulated during the larval stage.

Eupterotidae consists of two subfamilies: Janinae, which includes the King Monkey and comprises 29 species, and Striphnopteryginae, which consists of 55 species including the Clay Monkey.

The family Lasiocampidae (commonly referred to as Eggars and Lappets) represents the largest group within the Bombycoidea, comprising 237 species distributed across two subfamilies. These moths range from medium to large in size, characterized by densely setose bodies and proportionally smaller wings than other members of the superfamily. A distinctive behavioural trait is their tendency to rest with the leading edge of the hindwings protruding in front of the forewings, as shown by this Rose Eggar and Related Lappet.

Notably, the larvae are conspicuously large relative to the adult forms and are frequently equipped with detachable bristles that can induce dermatological irritation upon contact. The term ‘Lappets’ denotes the presence of thoracic flaps on some larvae, which bear clusters of these bristles; when threatened, the larvae will vigorously move these structures, thereby maximizing the defensive effect. Similar to members of the Eupterotidae family, adult Lasiocampidae lack functional mouthparts and do not feed.

The Saturniidae family, commonly referred to as Emperor Moths, encompasses the largest and most visually prominent species within Bombycoidea. This group comprises 86 species native to South Africa, including some of the world’s largest moths. Many members display vivid coloration and eyespots on their wings—typically present on all four wings, though occasionally restricted to the hindwings—which are concealed by the forewings and only revealed as an anti-predator response when threatened. Wahlberg’s Emperor demonstrates a defence mechanism unique to this group by dropping to the ground and rapidly opening and closing its wings to intensify its visual display. The African Moon Moth is one of several species found globally that have elongated comet-like tails, which may serve to confuse predators during flight. In South Africa, the largest representatives of this family achieve wingspans of approximately 200 mm, while smaller species such as Delegorgue’s Prince exhibit male wingspans of just 40–50 mm. Certain caterpillars can grow up to 100 mm in length, with many bearing urticating bristles. Although the caterpillar of Wahlberg’s Emperor appears unpalatable, it is, in fact, edible; this species and others, such as the Mopane Worm, form part of the human diet in Africa.

Like the Lasiocampidae and Eupterotidae, Saturniidae adults lack a functioning proboscis and cannot feed.

Most adult members of the superfamily Bombycoidea are characterized by slow flight and limited aerobatic capabilities. An exception is found in the family Sphingidae, or Hawkmoths, which comprises 121 species in South Africa. As suggested by their common name, these insects possess streamlined bodies reminiscent of raptorial birds, giving them an appearance adapted for speed.

Within South Africa, three subfamilies of Hawkmoths are present. The Sphinginae, which includes the Death’s-head Hawkmoth, are robust insects noted for their capacity for strong flight. Macroglossinae, which includes the Silver-striped Hawkmoth, represent the fastest-flying Hawkmoths and possess elongated proboscides that enable them to access nectar from flowers with deep corollas. While both Sphinginae and Macroglossinae are capable of feeding as adults, the third subfamily, Smerinthinae—including the Mulberry Hawkmoth—lacks a functional proboscis and, like other Bombycoidea, cannot feed during adulthood.

Hawkmoth larvae are readily identified by the distinctive ‘tail horn,‘ as observed on the caterpillar of the Death’s-head Hawkmoth.

There are many more kinds of moths than we’ve been able to cover here!

If this has whetted your appetite to know more about the Dark Side… this excellent book by Hermann Staude, Mike Picker, and Charles Griffiths is the resource you need.

‘Southern African Moths and their Caterpillars’ has over 1500 images of species most often seen in the region. People will find it useful in navigating what can be a huge and confusing subject.

If you find a specimen that isn’t in the book the chances are that a relative is covered. This will allow you to use the search function on the Afromoths website to fine tune your identification.

Even that has its limitations though, because new discoveries are constantly being made. Especially among the ‘micro moths’.

Munda Bark

Munda Bark caterpillar

Pink-laced Concealer

Leopard Magpie

Amaryllis Borer

Tunnel Droplet

Festive Red Tiger

Golden Plusia

Pale Cherry Spot

Pale Cherry Spot caterpillar

White Frother

Beautiful Tiger

Dot Underwing

Dot Underwing caterpillar

Peach Moth

Walker's Owl

Georgiana's Tussock

Banner Eublemma

Venus Turntail ♂

Giant Prominent

Spirited Puss

Spirited Puss caterpillar

Zebra Pyrale

Florid Pearl

Bi-triangle Pearl

Dotted White Veneer

Three-Spotted Joyful Moth

Dotted Ethmia

King Monkey

Clay Monkey

Rose Eggar

Related Lappet

Wahlberg's Emperor

Wahlberg's Emperor caterpillar

African Moon Moth

Delegorgue's Prince

Death's-head Hawkmoth

Death's-head Hawkmoth caterpillar

Silver-striped Hawkmoth

Mulberry Hawkmoth