Pearl Charaxes vs Variegated Cutworm

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Pearl Charaxes Variegated Cutworm
Scientific Name Charaxes varanes Peridroma saucia
Order Lepidoptera Lepidoptera
Family Nymphalidae Noctuidae
Size 55-70 mm wingspan 40-55 mm wingspan
Habitat Underground Farmland
Diet Sap Feeders Seed Feeders
Regions Sub-Saharan Africa Worldwide
Conservation Least Concern Not Evaluated

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.

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Did You Know?

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

Variegated Cutworm

A mottled brown moth whose plump soil-dwelling caterpillars cut through stems of seedlings at ground level. It attacks a very wide range of vegetables and field crops.

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Did You Know?

A single caterpillar can cut down several seedlings in one night, often felling far more plants than it actually eats.