Palos Verdes Blue vs Short-winged Green Stick Insect

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Palos Verdes Blue Short-winged Green Stick Insect
Scientific Name Glaucopsyche lygdamus palosverdesensis Acanthoxyla inermis
Order Lepidoptera Phasmatodea
Family Lycaenidae Phasmatidae
Size 2-3 cm wingspan 80-110mm
Habitat Beaches & Coastal Underground
Diet Herbivores Herbivores
Regions United States Oceania
Conservation Critically Endangered Least Concern

Palos Verdes Blue

A tiny blue butterfly endemic to the Palos Verdes Peninsula in Los Angeles County. It was thought extinct in 1983 before being rediscovered in 1994.

💡

Did You Know?

It is considered one of the rarest butterflies in the world, with captive breeding programs helping sustain the population.

Short-winged Green Stick Insect

A smooth bright green stick insect native to New Zealand. All known individuals are female. It has tiny vestigial wings that are useless for flight. It feeds on a wide variety of native plants.

💡

Did You Know?

No males have ever been found for this species; the entire population reproduces through obligate parthenogenesis.