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Common Geranium-bronze

Cacyreus marshalli

The Common Geranium-bronze is a small butterfly with beautiful brown and orange wings. It loves to flutter around gardens and fields, bringing joy to everyone who sees it.

Habitat: Gardens and fields

Appearance

The Common Geranium-bronze is a small, brownish-grey butterfly. Its hindwings often feature small, metallic bronze-green spots and delicate hair-like tails. This subtle iridescence helps distinguish it from other small brown butterflies.

KingdomAnimaliaPhylumArthropodaClassInsectaOrderLepidopteraFamilyLycaenidaeGenusCacyreus
Common Geranium-bronze
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Common Geranium-bronze

Category

Insects

Rarity

Common

Danger

1/5 · Very low

Snaps

Be the first to snap!

Interesting facts

Adults drink flower nectar, but their larvae are tiny plant wreckers!

Its caterpillars are expert tunnellers, boring hidden paths inside geranium stems!

This small butterfly is a master of invading new territories, rapidly expanding its range!

Unlike many butterflies, its favorite plants are often found in garden pots!

Special abilities

Ability

Stealthy Burrower

Common Geranium-bronze larvae can bore into geranium stems, protecting them from predators while they feed and grow hidden inside.

Ability

Rapid Generations

Common Geranium-bronze can complete its life cycle quickly, allowing multiple generations to emerge throughout a single warm season.

Ability

Disguise Mode

Common Geranium-bronze has drab undersides to its wings that help them blend into foliage, hiding from hungry birds.

Measurements & details

Wingspan
20-30 mm
Size
10-15 mm
Lifespan
7-14 days
Flight Speed
15 km/h
Leg Count
6

Diet & Feeding

Adult butterflies sip nectar from flowers, while their hungry larvae munch on geranium plants.

Age differences: Larvae feed on plant tissues by boring into stems and leaves, while adults consume nectar.

Primary Foods

  • Pelargonium zonale
  • Pelargonium x hortorum
  • Erodium cicutarium
  • Geranium molle

Foraging Method

  • Foraging

Ecological connections

eats

Garden Geranium

Pelargonium zonale

Larvae bore into stems and flower buds.

eats

Redstem Filaree

Erodium cicutarium

Caterpillars feed on the leaves and stems.

eaten by

Great Tit

Parus major

Great Tits prey on adult butterflies and caterpillars.

depends on

Lantana

Lantana camara

Adult butterflies sip nectar from this common garden shrub.

Traits

Also known as

Geranium Bronze Butterfly

Collections

Safety

Danger

1/5 · Very low

Always watch butterflies from a distance and don't try to catch them.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Common Geranium-bronze's wingspan?

20-30 mm

How big is Common Geranium-bronze?

10-15 mm

How long does Common Geranium-bronze live?

7-14 days

How fast can Common Geranium-bronze fly?

15 km/h

What does Common Geranium-bronze eat?

Adult butterflies sip nectar from flowers, while their hungry larvae munch on geranium plants.

Where is Common Geranium-bronze usually found?

Gardens and fields

How does Common Geranium-bronze hunt?

Foraging

How many legs does Common Geranium-bronze have?

6

Snap Map

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Where to spot

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