Japanese Honeybee vs Japanese Copper
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Japanese Honeybee | Japanese Copper |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Apis cerana japonica | Lycaena phlaeas daimio |
| Order | Hymenoptera | Lepidoptera |
| Family | Apidae | Lycaenidae |
| Size | 10-13 mm | 22-30 mm wingspan |
| Habitat | Underground | Underground |
| Diet | Nectar Feeders | Nectar Feeders |
| Regions | East Asia, Japan | East Asia, Japan |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
Japanese Honeybee
The Japanese subspecies of the Eastern honeybee, known as 'nihon-mitsubachi.' Smaller and darker than the European honeybee. Famous for its unique defensive behavior against giant hornets.
Did You Know?
Japanese honeybees can form a thermal ball around a hornet scout, vibrating their flight muscles to raise the temperature to lethal levels for the hornet.
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.
Did You Know?
Male small coppers are aggressively territorial and will challenge insects much larger than themselves, including large butterflies and dragonflies.