Empress Cicada vs Malagasy Blue Butterfly

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Empress Cicada Malagasy Blue Butterfly
Scientific Name Pomponia imperatoria Leptomyrina phidias
Order Hemiptera Lepidoptera
Family Cicadidae Lycaenidae
Size 70 mm body, 200 mm wingspan 25-30 mm wingspan
Habitat Forests Forests
Diet Sap Feeders Wood Feeders
Regions Asia Madagascar
Conservation Data Deficient Least Concern

Empress Cicada

The largest cicada species in the world with a wingspan up to 200 mm. Found in the rainforests of Peninsular Malaysia. Its body length exceeds 70 mm.

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Did You Know?

With a wingspan of 20 cm, this is the worlds largest cicada — it is so heavy that it makes an audible buzzing thump when it crashes into tree trunks while flying.

Malagasy Blue Butterfly

A small butterfly with brilliant blue upperwings in males and more subdued brown in females. The underwing surface has fine dark streaks on a silvery white background.

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Did You Know?

The caterpillars are unusual among lycaenids in feeding on lichens rather than the more typical ants or plant tissue.