Cuban Pygmy Blue Butterfly vs American Rubyspot

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Cuban Pygmy Blue Butterfly American Rubyspot
Scientific Name Brephidium exilis thompsoni Hetaerina americana
Order Lepidoptera Odonata
Family Lycaenidae Calopterygidae
Size 12-18 mm wingspan 40-50 mm
Habitat Beaches & Coastal Rivers & Streams
Diet Omnivores Omnivores
Regions Cuba, Caribbean North America, Central America
Conservation Not Evaluated Least Concern

Cuban Pygmy Blue Butterfly

One of the smallest butterflies in the world, found in Cuba and the Caribbean. Its wingspan barely exceeds 15 mm.

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Did You Know?

It is so tiny that it is often mistaken for a small moth or fly.

American Rubyspot

A graceful damselfly with brilliant ruby-red patches at the base of the wings in males. Its metallic red-bronze body gleams in sunlight along stream banks.

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Did You Know?

Males aggressively defend stream territories, clashing with rivals by displaying their ruby wing patches.