Melissa Arctic vs Malabar Banded Peacock
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Melissa Arctic | Malabar Banded Peacock |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Oeneis melissa | Papilio buddha |
| Order | Lepidoptera | Lepidoptera |
| Family | Nymphalidae | Papilionidae |
| Size | 40-50 mm wingspan | 90-120 mm wingspan |
| Habitat | Mountains | Rivers & Streams |
| Diet | Omnivores | Nectar Feeders |
| Regions | Arctic and subarctic North America, Rocky Mountain alpine zones | South Asia (India, endemic to the Western Ghats) |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
Melissa Arctic
A gray-brown butterfly with subtle orange patches and small blind eyespots. The hindwing underside features dark, bark-like striations for camouflage. It has an erratic, bouncing flight that makes it hard to track.
Did You Know?
Populations on isolated mountain peaks are considered glacial relicts, stranded since the last Ice Age when the tundra receded northward.
Malabar Banded Peacock
A striking swallowtail endemic to the Western Ghats with broad green bands across dark wings. Males congregate at mud puddles and stream banks in large numbers during the monsoon season.
Did You Know?
This is the state butterfly of Kerala and is found exclusively in the Western Ghats biodiversity hotspot.