Blue Doctor Butterfly vs Duke of Burgundy
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Blue Doctor Butterfly | Duke of Burgundy |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Rhetus periander | Hamearis lucina |
| Order | Lepidoptera | Lepidoptera |
| Family | Riodinidae | Riodinidae |
| Size | 55-65 mm wingspan | 29-34 mm wingspan |
| Habitat | Rivers & Streams | Grasslands |
| Diet | Herbivores | Herbivores |
| Regions | South America (Brazil, Peru, Colombia, Ecuador, Venezuela, Bolivia) | Europe |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern (declining regionally) |
Blue Doctor Butterfly
A large metalmark butterfly with brilliant metallic blue upperwings and distinctive red-spotted underwings with long tail streamers. It is one of the largest and most spectacular members of the family Riodinidae. Males are territorial and frequently seen perching on sunlit leaves.
Did You Know?
Despite being a metalmark butterfly rather than a swallowtail, it has evolved long tail streamers on its hindwings through convergent evolution.
Duke of Burgundy
A small, chequered brown and orange butterfly and Europe's only member of the metalmark family. It has declined significantly due to habitat loss.
Did You Know?
Despite its common name suggesting a fritillary, it belongs to an entirely different family.