Nocturnal Sweat Bee vs Mother-of-Pearl Butterfly

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Nocturnal Sweat Bee Mother-of-Pearl Butterfly
Scientific Name Megalopta genalis Protogoniomorpha parhassus
Order Hymenoptera Lepidoptera
Family Halictidae Nymphalidae
Size 10-12 mm 70-90 mm wingspan
Habitat Forests Forests
Diet Nectar Feeders Fruit Feeders
Regions Central America, South America Central Africa, East Africa, Southern Africa
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

Nocturnal Sweat Bee

One of few bees adapted to forage in near-total darkness in tropical forests.

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Did You Know?

Its enlarged ocelli give it visual sensitivity 30 times greater than day-active bees.

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.