African Sapphire vs Great Spangled Fritillary

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute African Sapphire Great Spangled Fritillary
Scientific Name Iolaus iulus Speyeria cybele
Order Lepidoptera Lepidoptera
Family Lycaenidae Nymphalidae
Size 30-40 mm wingspan 62-88 mm wingspan
Habitat Woodlands Farmland
Diet Nectar Feeders Nectar Feeders
Regions Sub-Saharan Africa North America
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

African Sapphire

Brilliant sapphire-blue upper wings with a dark margin and twin tails on hindwings. Found in African woodlands and forest edges.

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Did You Know?

Larvae feed exclusively inside mistletoe fruits, making them almost invisible to predators.

Great Spangled Fritillary

Large orange butterfly with heavy black markings and silver spots on the hindwing underside. Common across much of North America.

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Did You Know?

Newly hatched caterpillars do not eat until the following spring after overwintering.