Western Water Penny vs Pine White
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Western Water Penny | Pine White |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Psephenus falli | Neophasia menapia |
| Order | Coleoptera | Lepidoptera |
| Family | Psephenidae | Pieridae |
| Size | 4-5 mm (adults) | 42-52 mm wingspan |
| Habitat | Mountains | Mountains |
| Diet | Omnivores | Nectar Feeders |
| Regions | Western North America | Western North America |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
Western Water Penny
A water penny beetle restricted to clean mountain streams in western North America. Its disc-shaped larvae are indicators of high water quality.
Did You Know?
The presence of water penny larvae is used by biologists as a reliable indicator that a stream is unpolluted.
Pine White
Delicate white butterfly with black forewing veins. Uniquely among pierids, larvae feed on conifer needles rather than broadleaf plants.
Did You Know?
Periodic population explosions can defoliate large stands of ponderosa pine forest.