Blue Striped Nettle Grub vs Pale Grass Blue

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Blue Striped Nettle Grub Pale Grass Blue
Scientific Name Parasa lepida Zizeeria maha
Order Lepidoptera Lepidoptera
Family Limacodidae Lycaenidae
Size 30-40 mm wingspan 15-25 mm wingspan
Habitat Underground Meadows
Diet Herbivores Nectar Feeders
Regions Southeast Asia (Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, Vietnam, Philippines, Myanmar) East Asia, Japan/Korea
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

Blue Striped Nettle Grub

A small moth with vivid green forewings edged in dark chocolate brown. The caterpillar is bright green with blue longitudinal stripes and bears venomous urticating spines that cause intense pain.

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Did You Know?

The caterpillar's sting is so painful it is compared to a wasp sting, and the venomous spines can cause welts lasting several days.

Pale Grass Blue

One of the smallest and most common butterflies in Japan, known as 'yamato-shijimi.' Found everywhere from city sidewalks to mountain meadows. Pale blue upperwings with spotted undersides.

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Did You Know?

This butterfly became an unlikely research subject after Fukushima, as scientists documented radiation-induced mutations in populations near the disaster site.