Cleopatra Butterfly vs Chinese Character Moth

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Cleopatra Butterfly Chinese Character Moth
Scientific Name Gonepteryx cleopatra Cilix glaucata
Order Lepidoptera Lepidoptera
Family Pieridae Drepanidae
Size Wingspan 50-70mm 20-25 mm wingspan
Habitat Heathland Orchards
Diet Herbivores Omnivores
Regions Europe, Africa Europe, temperate Asia
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

Cleopatra Butterfly

A large butterfly with deep orange forewings in males and pale greenish wings in females. Common in Mediterranean areas.

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Did You Know?

Males have the deepest orange coloring of any European pierid butterfly, contrasting with their lemon-yellow undersides.

Chinese Character Moth

A tiny moth whose resting posture perfectly mimics a bird dropping on a leaf. Its white wings bear a central brown blotch that completes the illusion.

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Did You Know?

Its bird-dropping disguise is so effective that even experienced entomologists can walk past it without noticing.