Bug Wiki
Sticker of Jasmine moth
Bug card No. 2401 of 4,939

Jasmine moth

Palpita vitrealis
Eats: Nectar and pollenMothsGardens and meadows6 legs

The jasmine moth is almost see-through. Its body and wings are clear with a soft shine, like a pearl. Along the top edge of its front wings runs an orange or brown border, and it has big reddish brown eyes.

Lives in
Africa, Asia, Australia and southern Europe
Wingspan
2.7 to 3.1 cm (1.1 to 1.2 in)
Top speed
about 12 km/h (7.5 mph)
Flying, estimate
Can it hurt you?
Harmless
Harmless. It cannot bite or sting.
What does it eat?
The moths drink nectar from flowers like ivy and buddleia. Its caterpillars eat the leaves of jasmine, privet and olive trees.
For real!Photo of Jasmine moth
Picture by Hectonichus. CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

How big is it?

How wide are its wings?

Jasmine moth wings about 3.1 cm tip to tip (1.2 in)A grain of rice about 6 mm (0.24 in)A toy building brick about 3.2 cm (1.3 in)A crayon about 9 cm (3.5 in)
wings as wide as 5 grains of rice in a rowcould fly across a whole football pitch in 32 seconds

How big is Jasmine moth compared to YOU?

Just maths in your browser. Nothing is saved or sent anywhere.

How fast is it?

cool stuff

Fun facts

1

It is a traveller and can fly long distances, which is why it sometimes turns up far to the north.

2

Its caterpillars start out yellow and turn green as they grow.

3

The caterpillar spins some leaves together to make a silky cocoon.

4

Olive farmers do not like the caterpillars, because they eat the leaves and fruit.

you asked

Most asked questions about Jasmine moth

?What does the jasmine moth eat?

The moths drink nectar, and the caterpillars eat jasmine, privet and olive leaves.

?Why is it called the white pearl?

Its wings are clear and shiny, a bit like a pearl.

For bug experts

Scientific name
Palpita vitrealis
Group
Moths
Family
Crambidae
Classification
Insecta > Lepidoptera > Crambidae
Lives on
Africa, Asia, Australia and Oceania, Europe
Also known as
White pearl

Where the facts come from

  1. Palpita vitrealis (Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0): what it looks like, where it lives, what it eats, sizes and fun facts, retold in simple words.
  2. Picture by Hectonichus. CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons. The sticker of this bug is drawn from this picture.

If we got something wrong, sorry, we are bug fans, not a science journal. Tell us at [email protected] and we will fix it.

Bug Wiki honey jar For grown-ups: Bug Wiki is free, with no ads and no tracking. A small tip helps keep it online.Leave a tip

More from the same group: Moths

Also at home here: Gardens and meadows

Honey jarfor grown-ups