Natterer's Longhorn Beetle vs Thistle Tortoise Beetle

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Natterer's Longhorn Beetle Thistle Tortoise Beetle
Scientific Name Heliconius nattereri Cassida rubiginosa
Order Lepidoptera Coleoptera
Family Nymphalidae Chrysomelidae
Size 60-70 mm wingspan 6-8 mm
Habitat Forests Grasslands
Diet Herbivores Herbivores
Regions Southeastern Brazil Europe, Asia, introduced to New Zealand and North America
Conservation Endangered Least Concern

Natterer's Longhorn Beetle

A rare heliconiine butterfly endemic to the Atlantic Forest of Brazil. One of the most threatened butterflies in the Americas. Has lost most of its habitat to deforestation.

💡

Did You Know?

Has lost over 93% of its Atlantic Forest habitat, surviving only in small forest fragments.

Thistle Tortoise Beetle

A pale green to yellowish-brown tortoise beetle with a somewhat flattened, circular body. It has been used as a biocontrol agent against invasive thistles in several countries.

💡

Did You Know?

It was deliberately introduced to New Zealand and Canada as a biological control agent to combat invasive thistle species.