Cranberry Blue vs Short-winged Firefly
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Cranberry Blue | Short-winged Firefly |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Plebejus optilete | Lucidota atra |
| Order | Lepidoptera | Coleoptera |
| Family | Lycaenidae | Lampyridae |
| Size | 22-28 mm wingspan | 8-13 mm |
| Habitat | Underground | Underground |
| Diet | Nectar Feeders | Herbivores |
| Regions | Scandinavia, Finland, northern Russia, Siberia, subarctic Japan | North America |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
Cranberry Blue
A small butterfly with violet-blue upperwings in males and dark brown in females. The hindwing underside has a diagnostic metallic silver spot. It frequents boggy habitats where its larval foodplant cranberry grows.
Did You Know?
The caterpillar is tended by ants which protect it from parasitoids in exchange for sweet honeydew secretions.
Short-winged Firefly
A dark-bodied, day-active firefly that has lost the ability to produce light as an adult. It has a black body with a reddish-orange pronotum and is often found on tree trunks and vegetation.
Did You Know?
Despite being a firefly, this diurnal species relies on chemical pheromones rather than light signals to find mates.