Mariana Eight-spot Butterfly vs Japanese Oakblue

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Mariana Eight-spot Butterfly Japanese Oakblue
Scientific Name Hypolimnas octocula marianensis Arhopala japonica
Order Lepidoptera Lepidoptera
Family Nymphalidae Lycaenidae
Size 5-7 cm wingspan 30-40 mm wingspan
Habitat Forests Forests
Diet Herbivores Nectar Feeders
Regions United States East Asia, Japan
Conservation Endangered Least Concern

Mariana Eight-spot Butterfly

A butterfly subspecies endemic to the Mariana Islands in the western Pacific. It has suffered from habitat destruction and invasive species.

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Did You Know?

The brown tree snake, an invasive predator, has devastated many native species on Guam including this butterfly.

Japanese Oakblue

A beautiful lycaenid butterfly with brilliant metallic blue upperwings and cryptic brown underwings. Found in oak forests where its larvae live in association with ants. Known as 'murasaki-shijimi.'

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Did You Know?

The caterpillars produce sweet secretions that attract ants, which then guard them from predators in a mutualistic relationship.