Map Butterfly vs Black-winged Damselfly

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Map Butterfly Black-winged Damselfly
Scientific Name Araschnia levana Calopteryx atrata
Order Lepidoptera Odonata
Family Nymphalidae Calopterygidae
Size 32-40 mm wingspan 55-68mm
Habitat Rivers & Streams Rivers & Streams
Diet Omnivores Predators
Regions Europe, temperate Asia Asia
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

Map Butterfly

A small butterfly that produces two dramatically different seasonal forms within the same year. Spring adults are orange with black spots; summer adults are black with white bands.

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Did You Know?

The seasonal colour change is triggered by day length during the larval stage, not temperature.

Black-winged Damselfly

A large damselfly where males have entirely black iridescent wings with a metallic blue-green body. Females have dark smoky-brown wings. It inhabits clean streams in East Asia.

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Did You Know?

In Japan it is called 'haguro-tonbo' (black-winged dragonfly) and is considered a symbol of good fortune.