Scarce Copper vs European Spruce Sawfly
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Scarce Copper | European Spruce Sawfly |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Lycaena virgaureae | Gilpinia hercyniae |
| Order | Lepidoptera | Hymenoptera |
| Family | Lycaenidae | Diprionidae |
| Size | 30-38 mm wingspan | 7-10 mm |
| Habitat | Mountains | Farmland |
| Diet | Omnivores | Omnivores |
| Regions | Europe, temperate Asia | Europe, introduced to North America |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
Scarce Copper
A brilliant fiery-orange butterfly with black-spotted forewings, the male being one of the most intensely coloured European butterflies. Females are more subdued with brown-spotted orange wings.
Did You Know?
Males are so brilliantly orange they can be spotted from over 50 metres away in sunlit meadows.
European Spruce Sawfly
A moderately sized sawfly with dark brown to black coloring and pectinate antennae in males. Larvae are green with white lateral stripes and feed on spruce needles.
Did You Know?
After its introduction to North America in the 1920s, it caused massive spruce defoliation until a naturally occurring nuclear polyhedrosis virus brought populations under control.