Large Blue vs Moroccan Locust

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Large Blue Moroccan Locust
Scientific Name Phengaris arion Dociostaurus maroccanus
Order Lepidoptera Orthoptera
Family Lycaenidae Acrididae
Size 38-52 mm wingspan 20-38 mm
Habitat Grasslands Deserts & Drylands
Diet Omnivores Omnivores
Regions Europe, temperate Asia Africa, Europe, Asia
Conservation Near Threatened Least Concern

Large Blue

A blue butterfly with distinctive black spots that has one of the most complex life cycles in the insect world. It was declared extinct in Britain in 1979 but has been successfully reintroduced.

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Did You Know?

Caterpillars trick ants into carrying them into their nests, where they feed on ant larvae for ten months.

Moroccan Locust

A small but destructive locust found in dry habitats across the Mediterranean and Central Asia. It forms dense hopper bands that march across arid terrain.

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Did You Know?

Outbreaks tend to follow droughts broken by rain, when eggs laid in dry soil suddenly hatch en masse.