Japanese Narrow-Winged Damselfly vs Brutus Charaxes
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Japanese Narrow-Winged Damselfly | Brutus Charaxes |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Mnais costalis | Charaxes brutus |
| Order | Odonata | Lepidoptera |
| Family | Calopterygidae | Nymphalidae |
| Size | 50-65 mm | 70-90 mm wingspan |
| Habitat | Forests | Forests |
| Diet | Omnivores | Dung Feeders |
| Regions | East Asia, Japan | West and Central Africa (Nigeria, Ghana, Cameroon, DRC, Ivory Coast) |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
Japanese Narrow-Winged Damselfly
A beautiful damselfly endemic to Japan, known as 'niko-nico-kawatombou.' Males come in two forms: orange-winged territorial males and clear-winged sneaker males. Found along clean forest streams.
Did You Know?
The two male forms represent an evolutionary stable strategy: orange-winged males defend territories while clear-winged males sneak matings by mimicking females.
Brutus Charaxes
A large and powerful butterfly with black and white banding on the upper wings and intricate reddish-brown patterns beneath. It is a fast, aggressive flier that frequents forest canopy. Males are strongly territorial.
Did You Know?
Charaxes brutus is one of the fastest-flying butterflies in Africa, capable of outpacing many bird species over short distances.