Glasswing Butterfly vs Banded General Soldier Fly

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Glasswing Butterfly Banded General Soldier Fly
Scientific Name Greta oto Stratiomys potamida
Order Lepidoptera Diptera
Family Nymphalidae Stratiomyidae
Size 56-61 mm wingspan 12-16 mm
Habitat Forests Ponds & Lakes
Diet Nectar Feeders Nectar Feeders
Regions Central America, South America Europe, Asia
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

Glasswing Butterfly

Remarkable for its transparent wings, created by nanopillar structures that reduce light reflection to just 2%. This makes it nearly invisible in flight through the rainforest.

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Did You Know?

The glasswing butterflys transparent wings have anti-reflective nanopillars that inspired researchers to develop better anti-glare coatings for smartphone screens.

Banded General Soldier Fly

A large, boldly marked soldier fly with a broad flat abdomen bearing yellow lateral markings. Its aquatic larvae are elongate and can breathe through a posterior spiracle at the water surface.

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Did You Know?

Larvae can survive in heavily polluted water where most other aquatic insects cannot live.