Arctic Bumblebee vs Police Car Swallowtail

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Arctic Bumblebee Police Car Swallowtail
Scientific Name Bombus polaris Graphium policenes
Order Hymenoptera Lepidoptera
Family Apidae Papilionidae
Size 15-22 mm 60-75 mm wingspan
Habitat Beaches & Coastal Forests
Diet Nectar Feeders Nectar Feeders
Regions Canadian Arctic, Alaska, Greenland, northern Scandinavia, Svalbard, Siberia West and Central Africa (Ghana, Nigeria, Cameroon, DRC, Ivory Coast)
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

Arctic Bumblebee

A large, densely furred bumblebee with yellow and black banding adapted to extreme cold. Its thick pile of hair provides superior insulation. Queens emerge from hibernation as soon as snow melts.

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Did You Know?

This bumblebee can maintain its flight muscle temperature at 30 degrees Celsius even when the air temperature is near freezing, thanks to its exceptional insulation.

Police Car Swallowtail

A striking swallowtail butterfly with black wings covered in small pale green spots resembling a police car's livery. It has short hindwing tails and a rapid, darting flight. Common in forest areas throughout its range.

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Did You Know?

Its common name comes from the black-and-white spotted pattern that was thought to resemble early police vehicles.