Purple Hairstreak vs Peruvian Antlion

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Purple Hairstreak Peruvian Antlion
Scientific Name Favonius quercus Ameromyia lineata
Order Lepidoptera Neuroptera
Family Lycaenidae Myrmeleontidae
Size 31-40 mm wingspan 40-55 mm wingspan
Habitat Woodlands Deserts & Drylands
Diet Omnivores Omnivores
Regions Europe, western Asia, North Africa Peru, Western South America
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

Purple Hairstreak

A small dark butterfly with a purple-blue sheen visible only at certain angles, living almost exclusively in oak canopies. It feeds on honeydew rather than visiting flowers.

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Did You Know?

Colonies can exist undetected for years because the butterflies almost never leave the treetops.

Peruvian Antlion

A neotropical antlion found in dry inter-Andean valleys and coastal deserts. Adapted to extremely arid conditions.

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Did You Know?

It thrives in some of the driest deserts in South America where few other neuropterans survive.