Green Hairstreak vs Lime-speck Pug

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Green Hairstreak Lime-speck Pug
Scientific Name Callophrys rubi Eupithecia centaureata
Order Lepidoptera Lepidoptera
Family Lycaenidae Geometridae
Size Wingspan 26-34mm 19-23 mm wingspan
Habitat Heathland Farmland
Diet Herbivores Herbivores
Regions Europe, Asia, Africa Europe, Asia
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

Green Hairstreak

A small butterfly with plain brown uppersides but stunning iridescent green undersides. It always rests with wings closed showing only the green underside.

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Did You Know?

It is the only green butterfly in Britain and its color comes from photonic crystals in the wing scales not pigment.

Lime-speck Pug

A small whitish moth with a distinctive dark spot on each forewing. One of the most widespread pug moths. Larvae feed on flowers of many plant species.

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Did You Know?

One of the most polyphagous pug moths, with larvae recorded on the flowers of over 50 plant families.