Long-tailed Blue vs South American Fire Ant
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Long-tailed Blue | South American Fire Ant |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Lampides boeticus | Solenopsis saevissima |
| Order | Lepidoptera | Hymenoptera |
| Family | Lycaenidae | Formicidae |
| Size | 24-34 mm wingspan | 2-6 mm |
| Habitat | Underground | Rivers & Streams |
| Diet | Seed Feeders | Seed Feeders |
| Regions | Europe, Africa, Asia, Australia | Brazil, Argentina, Paraguay, Uruguay |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
Long-tailed Blue
A small pale violet-blue butterfly with thin hairlike tails on the hindwings and prominent false eyespots near them. It is one of the most widespread butterflies in the world.
Did You Know?
The false head pattern on the hindwing tails tricks predators into attacking the wrong end of the butterfly.
South American Fire Ant
An aggressive reddish-brown fire ant native to South America with a painful venomous sting. Colonies form conspicuous mound nests in open areas.
Did You Know?
During floods, entire colonies link together into living rafts that float for weeks until finding dry ground.