Pearl Charaxes vs Spotted Lanternfly

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Pearl Charaxes Spotted Lanternfly
Scientific Name Charaxes varanes Lycorma delicatula
Order Lepidoptera Hemiptera
Family Nymphalidae Fulgoridae
Size 55-70 mm wingspan 25 mm
Habitat Underground Forests
Diet Sap Feeders Sap Feeders
Regions Sub-Saharan Africa Asia, North America (invasive)
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

Pearl Charaxes

A medium-sized charaxes butterfly with pearly white underwings and tawny-orange uppersides. It is one of the most common charaxes in southern Africa.

💡

Did You Know?

Unlike most butterflies, charaxes are attracted to rotting fruit and animal droppings rather than flowers.

Spotted Lanternfly

A colorful invasive planthopper from China threatening vineyards, orchards, and hardwood forests in North America. Adults have striking red hindwings revealed in flight.

💡

Did You Know?

Spotted lanternflies are such a threat that multiple US states have quarantine zones — citizens are legally instructed to kill any lanternfly they see on sight.