Mother-of-Pearl Butterfly vs Walker's Nasute Termite

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Mother-of-Pearl Butterfly Walker's Nasute Termite
Scientific Name Protogoniomorpha parhassus Nasutitermes walkeri
Order Lepidoptera Blattodea
Family Nymphalidae Termitidae
Size 70-90 mm wingspan Workers 4-5 mm, soldiers 5-6 mm
Habitat Forests Forests
Diet Fruit Feeders Wood Feeders
Regions Central Africa, East Africa, Southern Africa Eastern Australia
Conservation Least Concern Not Evaluated

Mother-of-Pearl Butterfly

A large butterfly with shimmering pearly white wings that reflect iridescent blue and pink. It inhabits deep forest where it glides through shaded clearings.

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Did You Know?

The pearlescent sheen on its wings is produced by tiny overlapping scales that act as multilayer reflectors.

Walker's Nasute Termite

An arboreal termite that builds round carton nests on tree trunks in eastern Australia. Its nests are made from chewed wood cemented with fecal material.

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Did You Know?

Its arboreal nests provide shelter to many other invertebrate species including spiders and beetles.