Rosy Underwing vs Blue Pansy

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Rosy Underwing Blue Pansy
Scientific Name Catocala electa Junonia orithya
Order Lepidoptera Lepidoptera
Family Erebidae Nymphalidae
Size 65-80 mm wingspan 40-60 mm wingspan
Habitat Rivers & Streams Heathland
Diet Predators Nectar Feeders
Regions Central and southern Europe, temperate Asia Southeast Asia (Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia, Indonesia, Philippines, Myanmar, Cambodia, Laos)
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

Rosy Underwing

A large moth with camouflaged grey-brown forewings hiding vivid rosy-pink and black hindwings. When disturbed, the flash of pink confuses predators as it drops from its perch.

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Did You Know?

Like all underwing moths, it uses a startle display, flashing its bright hindwings then vanishing as it re-covers them.

Blue Pansy

A medium-sized butterfly with stunning bright blue hindwings bearing large eyespots and brown forewings with smaller orange-ringed ocelli. Males are more intensely blue than females.

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Did You Know?

The large eyespots on the hindwings are thought to deflect bird attacks toward the wing edge rather than the vulnerable body.