Japanese Copper vs Spoonwing Lacewing

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Japanese Copper Spoonwing Lacewing
Scientific Name Lycaena phlaeas daimio Nemoptera bipennis
Order Lepidoptera Neuroptera
Family Lycaenidae Nemopteridae
Size 22-30 mm wingspan 20-28 mm body
Habitat Underground Grasslands
Diet Nectar Feeders Nectar Feeders
Regions East Asia, Japan Europe
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.

Spoonwing Lacewing

A graceful insect with spatula-shaped hindwing extensions, giving it an ethereal appearance in flight. Common in Iberian Peninsula grasslands.

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Did You Know?

The spoon-shaped hindwings create an unusual fluttering flight pattern that makes the insect difficult for predators to track.