Common Euphaedra vs Short-Faced Scorpionfly

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Common Euphaedra Short-Faced Scorpionfly
Scientific Name Euphaedra medon Panorpodes paradoxus
Order Lepidoptera Mecoptera
Family Nymphalidae Panorpodidae
Size 55-70 mm wingspan 10-14 mm
Habitat Forests Forests
Diet Dung Feeders Pollen Feeders
Regions West Africa (Nigeria, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Sierra Leone, Liberia) Asia
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

Common Euphaedra

A forest-dwelling butterfly with deep orange-brown wings and distinctive blue-purple iridescent bands. It is one of the most commonly encountered Euphaedra species in West Africa. Males and females differ significantly in pattern.

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Did You Know?

Over 200 species of Euphaedra exist in Africa, making it one of the most species-rich butterfly genera on the continent.

Short-Faced Scorpionfly

An unusual scorpionfly with a shorter rostrum than typical Panorpa species, found in East Asian forests. It feeds primarily on nectar and pollen.

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Did You Know?

Unlike most scorpionflies that scavenge dead insects, this species has evolved a shortened face for feeding primarily on flower nectar.