Common Tree Nymph vs Green Tree Ant
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Common Tree Nymph | Green Tree Ant |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Idea stolli | Oecophylla smaragdina subnitida |
| Order | Lepidoptera | Hymenoptera |
| Family | Nymphalidae | Formicidae |
| Size | 130-170 mm wingspan | 5-10 mm |
| Habitat | Forests | Forests |
| Diet | Nectar Feeders | Nectar Feeders |
| Regions | Southeast Asia (Indonesia, Borneo, Sulawesi, Philippines, Maluku) | Northern Australia |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
Common Tree Nymph
A very large butterfly with translucent white wings heavily veined and spotted in black. It flies with a slow, lazy, paper-kite fluttering motion through the forest understory.
Did You Know?
Its slow, floating flight advertises its toxicity to predators - the caterpillars store alkaloids from their host plants that persist into adulthood.
Green Tree Ant
An Australian subspecies of the Asian weaver ant with distinctive bright green coloring. Indigenous Australians have traditionally eaten them and used their nests for medicinal purposes.
Did You Know?
They taste like lime or lemongrass due to their high formic acid content and are eaten as bush food in northern Australia.