Cockchafer vs Goatweed Leafwing
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Cockchafer | Goatweed Leafwing |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Melolontha melolontha | Anaea andria |
| Order | Coleoptera | Lepidoptera |
| Family | Scarabaeidae | Nymphalidae |
| Size | 25-30 mm | 55-75 mm wingspan |
| Habitat | Farmland | Farmland |
| Diet | Root Feeders | Dung Feeders |
| Regions | Western Europe, Central Europe, Northern Europe | Central and Eastern United States, northern Mexico |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
Cockchafer
A large, clumsy-flying chafer beetle that emerges en masse on warm May evenings. Its white C-shaped larvae are familiar agricultural pests across Europe.
Did You Know?
In medieval Europe, cockchafer swarms were so destructive that they were once put on trial in court.
Goatweed Leafwing
A bright orange butterfly whose angular wing shape and mottled brown underside create a perfect dead-leaf disguise when at rest. It almost never visits flowers.
Did You Know?
It overwinters as an adult, hiding among dead leaves where its camouflage makes it virtually invisible.