Black Cutworm vs Long-tailed Sylph
Agrotis ipsilon compared with Aglaiocercus kingii
Taxonomic Classification
| Rank | Black Cutworm | Long-tailed Sylph |
|---|---|---|
| Kingdom same | Animalia (Animals) | Animalia (Animals) |
| Phylum | Arthropoda (Arthropods) | Chordata (Chordates) |
| Class | Insecta (Insects) | Aves (Birds) |
| Order | Lepidoptera (Butterflies & Moths) | Apodiformes (Apodiformes) |
| Family | Noctuidae | Trochilidae |
| Genus | Agrotis | Aglaiocercus |
| Species | Agrotis ipsilon | Aglaiocercus kingii |
Evolutionary Relationship
Black Cutworm and Long-tailed Sylph share a common ancestor at the Kingdom level: Animalia. (Animals)
Conservation Status
Black Cutworm
LC — Least ConcernLong-tailed Sylph
LC — Least ConcernPhysical Characteristics
| Attribute | Black Cutworm | Long-tailed Sylph |
|---|---|---|
| Diet | — | — |
| Average Lifespan | — | — |
| Average Length | — | — |
| Average Weight | — | — |
Habitat & Geographic Range
Black Cutworm
Found across multiple habitat types including tropical and subtropical moist broadleaf forests, tropical and subtropical dry broadleaf forests, and tropical and subtropical grasslands and savannas, among 6 distinct biome types spanning the Afrotropic and Palearctic realms. Populations are also found in montane and highland environments at higher elevations.
Widely distributed across Africa (7 countries), Asia (Taiwan), Europe (5 countries), North America (Canada, United States), and South America (Chile).
Long-tailed Sylph
Typically found in various aerial, terrestrial, and aquatic environments.
Distributed across Colombia, Ecuador, Norway, and Venezuela.
Black Cutworm
The Black Cutworm (Agrotis ipsilon) is a species in the genus Agrotis. It is currently classified as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List. Found across multiple habitat types including tropical and subtropical moist broadleaf forests, tropical and subtropical dry broadleaf forests, and tropical and subtropical grasslands and savannas, among 6 distinct biome types spanning the. Widely distributed across Africa (7 countries), Asia (Taiwan), Europe (5 countries), North America (Canada, United Stat...
Long-tailed Sylph
One of the most strikingly ornamented hummingbirds, male long-tailed sylphs have iridescent green plumage and dramatically elongated, ribbon-like outer tail feathers reaching up to 22 cm — over three times the body length. Found in Andean cloud forests of Colombia and Venezuela, they inhabit humid montane forest between 1,400–2,800 meters elevation. Males perform elaborate display flights to attract females. Their extravagant tails are a classic example of sexual selection via female preference.
Related Comparisons
Nature FYI Family
Explore more of the natural world across our sister sites.
Part of the Nature FYI family — FYIPedia