Australian Painted Lady vs Red Soldier Beetle

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Australian Painted Lady Red Soldier Beetle
Scientific Name Vanessa kershawi Rhagonycha fulva
Order Lepidoptera Coleoptera
Family Nymphalidae Cantharidae
Size 4-5 cm wingspan 8-10 mm
Habitat Underground Underground
Diet Nectar Feeders Nectar Feeders
Regions Australia, New Zealand Europe
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.

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Did You Know?

Millions migrate northward in autumn in one of Australia's most impressive insect movements.

Red Soldier Beetle

A very common soldier beetle in Europe with orange-red elytra tipped in black. It is one of the most familiar beetles on hogweed and other umbellifer flowers.

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Did You Know?

In the UK it is commonly known as the bloodsucker beetle, though it is completely harmless to humans.