Foxy Charaxes vs Lac Insect
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Foxy Charaxes | Lac Insect |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Charaxes jasius saturnus | Kerria lacca |
| Order | Lepidoptera | Hemiptera |
| Family | Nymphalidae | Kerriidae |
| Size | 75-90 mm wingspan | 1-3 mm |
| Habitat | Beaches & Coastal | Forests |
| Diet | Sap Feeders | Sap Feeders |
| Regions | East Africa, Southern Africa | Asia |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
Foxy Charaxes
A powerful butterfly with rich orange-brown wings edged in dark brown with blue spots. The underside is intricately patterned in silver and russet.
Did You Know?
It is the only charaxes species also found in Europe, where the nominate subspecies occurs around the Mediterranean.
Lac Insect
Produces lac resin — the raw material for shellac, used in wood finishes, food glazing, and pharmaceutical coatings. One of the few insects commercially farmed for a secretion.
Did You Know?
It takes roughly 300,000 lac insects to produce 1 kg of shellac — the coating on your shiny chocolate candy or pharmaceutical pill likely came from these tiny bugs.