Phasia Tachinid vs Pearl Charaxes

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Phasia Tachinid Pearl Charaxes
Scientific Name Phasia hemiptera Charaxes varanes
Order Diptera Lepidoptera
Family Tachinidae Nymphalidae
Size 7-10 mm 55-70 mm wingspan
Habitat Underground Underground
Diet Nectar Feeders Sap Feeders
Regions Europe Sub-Saharan Africa
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

Phasia Tachinid

A parasitic fly with distinctive dark-tipped wings that parasitizes shieldbug species. Males have broader wings than females. Adults visit flowers for nectar.

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Did You Know?

Larvae develop inside living shieldbugs, eventually consuming and killing their hosts.

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.