Meadow Argus vs Cape Oil-collecting Bee

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Meadow Argus Cape Oil-collecting Bee
Scientific Name Junonia villida Rediviva neliana
Order Lepidoptera Hymenoptera
Family Nymphalidae Melittidae
Size 4-5 cm wingspan 10-14 mm
Habitat Beaches & Coastal Mountains
Diet Nectar Feeders Nectar Feeders
Regions Australia, New Zealand, Pacific Islands South Africa
Conservation Least Concern Data Deficient

Meadow Argus

A medium-sized brown butterfly with prominent eyespots on each wing. It is one of Australia's most common and widespread butterflies.

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Did You Know?

The conspicuous eyespots on its wings are thought to startle predators or deflect attacks from the body.

Cape Oil-collecting Bee

A South African oil-collecting bee with extraordinarily long front legs used to extract floral oil from deep-spurred Diascia flowers. It is a solitary ground-nesting species.

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Did You Know?

Its front legs can be longer than its entire body, an extreme adaptation for reaching oils at the bottom of deep flower spurs.