Japanese Copper vs Promethea Moth

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Japanese Copper Promethea Moth
Scientific Name Lycaena phlaeas daimio Callosamia promethea
Order Lepidoptera Lepidoptera
Family Lycaenidae Saturniidae
Size 22-30 mm wingspan Wingspan 75-95mm
Habitat Underground Woodlands
Diet Nectar Feeders Herbivores
Regions East Asia, Japan North America
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

Japanese Copper

The Japanese subspecies of the small copper butterfly, known as 'beni-shijimi.' A small but brilliantly colored butterfly with fiery orange-copper wings. One of the most common butterflies in Japan.

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Did You Know?

Male small coppers are aggressively territorial and will challenge insects much larger than themselves, including large butterflies and dragonflies.

Promethea Moth

A large silk moth with strong sexual dimorphism. Males are dark with tan margins while females are reddish-brown with lighter markings.

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Did You Know?

Males fly during the afternoon which is unusual for silk moths and they are sometimes mistaken for dark-colored swallowtail butterflies.