Australian Lace Bug vs Purple Hairstreak
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Australian Lace Bug | Purple Hairstreak |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Froggattia olivinia | Favonius quercus |
| Order | Hemiptera | Lepidoptera |
| Family | Tingidae | Lycaenidae |
| Size | 3-5 mm | 31-40 mm wingspan |
| Habitat | Woodlands | Woodlands |
| Diet | Herbivores | Omnivores |
| Regions | Australia, Oceania | Europe, western Asia, North Africa |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
Australian Lace Bug
A small sap-sucking bug that infests eucalyptus trees, producing unsightly black sooty mould on leaves. It has intricately patterned lace-like wing extensions that give the family its common name.
Did You Know?
Female lace bugs guard their eggs and young nymphs, a rare example of parental care in true bugs.
Purple Hairstreak
A small dark butterfly with a purple-blue sheen visible only at certain angles, living almost exclusively in oak canopies. It feeds on honeydew rather than visiting flowers.
Did You Know?
Colonies can exist undetected for years because the butterflies almost never leave the treetops.