Golden Birdwing vs Tepui Firefly

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Golden Birdwing Tepui Firefly
Scientific Name Troides aeacus Photinus tepui
Order Lepidoptera Coleoptera
Family Papilionidae Lampyridae
Size 140-170 mm wingspan 10-15 mm
Habitat Mountains Mountains
Diet Nectar Feeders Predators
Regions South and Southeast Asia, southern China South America (Venezuela - tepui region, Guyana)
Conservation Least Concern; listed on CITES Appendix II Data Deficient

Golden Birdwing

A large birdwing butterfly with velvety black forewings and brilliant golden-yellow hindwings. It is found across a wide range of Asian habitats from India to China.

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Did You Know?

Like all birdwings, it is protected under international trade law, and collecting wild specimens is illegal in most countries.

Tepui Firefly

A bioluminescent beetle endemic to the isolated tepui tabletop mountains of Venezuela. It produces a distinctive greenish-yellow flash pattern used in mate attraction. The larvae are also luminous and prey on snails and other small invertebrates on the tepui summit.

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Did You Know?

It lives only on the ancient tabletop mountains of Venezuela, which have been isolated for millions of years, making it a living relic of evolutionary history.