Red-tipped Flower Beetle vs Large Copper Butterfly
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Red-tipped Flower Beetle | Large Copper Butterfly |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Malachius bipustulatus | Lycaena dispar |
| Order | Coleoptera | Lepidoptera |
| Family | Melyridae | Lycaenidae |
| Size | 5-7 mm | 33-40 mm wingspan |
| Habitat | Underground | Wetlands |
| Diet | Nectar Feeders | Nectar Feeders |
| Regions | Europe | Europe, Asia |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Near Threatened |
Red-tipped Flower Beetle
A small metallic green beetle with bright red tips on each elytron. Males can evert orange vesicles from their thorax as a display.
Did You Know?
Males produce pheromone-laden secretions from thoracic vesicles that females lick during courtship.
Large Copper Butterfly
Once widespread across European wetlands, the English subspecies went extinct in the 1850s. Remaining populations are declining due to drainage of fens and marshes.
Did You Know?
The English subspecies of the large copper was one of the first British butterflies to go extinct — driven to extinction by drainage of the East Anglian fens in the 1850s.