Harvester Butterfly vs Demon Charaxes

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Harvester Butterfly Demon Charaxes
Scientific Name Feniseca tarquinius Charaxes lucretius
Order Lepidoptera Lepidoptera
Family Lycaenidae Nymphalidae
Size 28-33 mm wingspan 70-90 mm wingspan
Habitat Rivers & Streams Forests
Diet Sap Feeders Dung Feeders
Regions Eastern North America Central Africa (Cameroon, Gabon, Congo, DRC)
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

Harvester Butterfly

The only carnivorous butterfly in North America, whose caterpillar feeds on woolly aphids rather than plants. Adults are small and orange-brown with dark spotting.

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Did You Know?

The caterpillar camouflages itself with the waxy white filaments of its aphid prey while feeding.

Demon Charaxes

A large forest Charaxes with deep black upperside marked with blue iridescence in males. Females are larger and browner. The underside has intricate leaf-like patterning providing excellent camouflage.

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Did You Know?

When resting with wings closed, this butterfly is almost invisible against the bark of forest trees thanks to its cryptic underside.