Australian Painted Lady vs Blue Morpho Caterpillar Parasite Wasp
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Australian Painted Lady | Blue Morpho Caterpillar Parasite Wasp |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Vanessa kershawi | Conura acuta |
| Order | Lepidoptera | Hymenoptera |
| Family | Nymphalidae | Chalcididae |
| Size | 4-5 cm wingspan | 5-10 mm |
| Habitat | Underground | Underground |
| Diet | Nectar Feeders | Parasitoids |
| Regions | Australia, New Zealand | South America (Brazil, Peru, Colombia, Venezuela) |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
Australian Painted Lady
An orange, black, and white butterfly closely related to the cosmopolitan painted lady. It undertakes seasonal migrations across southeastern Australia.
Did You Know?
Millions migrate northward in autumn in one of Australia's most impressive insect movements.
Blue Morpho Caterpillar Parasite Wasp
A metallic-colored parasitoid wasp that attacks the pupae of various Lepidoptera, including Morpho butterflies. The female inserts her ovipositor through the pupal shell to lay eggs inside the developing butterfly. Larvae consume the pupa from within before emerging as adult wasps.
Did You Know?
A single parasitized Morpho pupa can produce dozens of tiny wasps instead of one large butterfly.