Common Tree Nymph vs Spiny Ant
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Common Tree Nymph | Spiny Ant |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Idea stolli | Polyrhachis dives |
| Order | Lepidoptera | Hymenoptera |
| Family | Nymphalidae | Formicidae |
| Size | 130-170 mm wingspan | 5-7 mm |
| Habitat | Forests | Forests |
| Diet | Nectar Feeders | Nectar Feeders |
| Regions | Southeast Asia (Indonesia, Borneo, Sulawesi, Philippines, Maluku) | Southeast Asia, southern China, India |
| 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.
Spiny Ant
A distinctive Asian ant with paired spines on the petiole and propodeum. Workers are metallic dark brown and build nests from silk produced by larvae, similar to weaver ants. Colonies are arboreal and highly territorial.
Did You Know?
They are commonly eaten as a protein-rich food in parts of southern China, where they are harvested from silk nests in trees.