Red-bordered Metalmark vs Geranium Bronze
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Red-bordered Metalmark | Geranium Bronze |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Caria ino | Cacyreus marshalli |
| Order | Lepidoptera | Lepidoptera |
| Family | Riodinidae | Lycaenidae |
| Size | 28-35 mm wingspan | 18-23 mm wingspan |
| Habitat | Heathland | Underground |
| Diet | Omnivores | Omnivores |
| Regions | South Texas through Mexico and Central America | Native to South Africa; invasive in Mediterranean Europe |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
Red-bordered Metalmark
A dark metalmark butterfly with bright red-orange borders along the wing edges and metallic blue-green scaling at the wing bases. It perches with wings spread flat.
Did You Know?
Males are fiercely territorial, perching on sunlit leaf surfaces and darting out at any passing insect.
Geranium Bronze
A small dull brown butterfly with a distinctive white fringe and thin tail that has become a major pest of cultivated geraniums in Europe. Its larvae bore into geranium buds and stems.
Did You Know?
Since its accidental introduction to Majorca in 1990, it has spread across most of southern Europe.