African Blue Emperor vs Scarce Copper

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute African Blue Emperor Scarce Copper
Scientific Name Anax speratus Lycaena virgaureae
Order Odonata Lepidoptera
Family Aeshnidae Lycaenidae
Size 65-78 mm 30-38 mm wingspan
Habitat Ponds & Lakes Mountains
Diet Omnivores Omnivores
Regions Africa Europe, temperate Asia
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

African Blue Emperor

A large, powerful dragonfly widespread across sub-Saharan Africa. Males have a bright blue abdomen and green thorax similar to the European emperor.

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Did You Know?

It is Africa's ecological equivalent of the European Blue Emperor, filling the same niche.

Scarce Copper

A brilliant fiery-orange butterfly with black-spotted forewings, the male being one of the most intensely coloured European butterflies. Females are more subdued with brown-spotted orange wings.

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Did You Know?

Males are so brilliantly orange they can be spotted from over 50 metres away in sunlit meadows.