Brutus Charaxes vs Six-spot Burnet

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Brutus Charaxes Six-spot Burnet
Scientific Name Charaxes brutus Zygaena filipendulae
Order Lepidoptera Lepidoptera
Family Nymphalidae Zygaenidae
Size 70-90 mm wingspan 30-40 mm wingspan
Habitat Forests Beaches & Coastal
Diet Dung Feeders Predators
Regions West and Central Africa (Nigeria, Ghana, Cameroon, DRC, Ivory Coast) Europe, western Asia
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

Brutus Charaxes

A large and powerful butterfly with black and white banding on the upper wings and intricate reddish-brown patterns beneath. It is a fast, aggressive flier that frequents forest canopy. Males are strongly territorial.

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Did You Know?

Charaxes brutus is one of the fastest-flying butterflies in Africa, capable of outpacing many bird species over short distances.

Six-spot Burnet

A day-flying moth with metallic blue-black forewings bearing six crimson spots. Its bright colours warn predators of its cyanide-based chemical defences.

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Did You Know?

Both the larvae and adults contain hydrogen cyanide, making them highly toxic to predators.