Banded Swallowtail vs Freyer's Purple Emperor
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Banded Swallowtail | Freyer's Purple Emperor |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Papilio demolion | Apatura metis |
| Order | Lepidoptera | Lepidoptera |
| Family | Papilionidae | Nymphalidae |
| Size | 80-110 mm wingspan | 60-70 mm wingspan |
| Habitat | Orchards | Rivers & Streams |
| Diet | Nectar Feeders | Dung Feeders |
| Regions | Southeast Asia (Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, Borneo, Philippines) | Southeastern Europe, Central Asia, China |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern (globally); rare and declining in Eu |
Banded Swallowtail
A medium-large swallowtail with dark brown-black wings bearing a broad pale greenish-yellow band across both forewings and hindwings. The hindwings have a short, spatula-shaped tail.
Did You Know?
Males often gather in large numbers at muddy puddles to obtain dissolved minerals, a behavior known as mud-puddling.
Freyer's Purple Emperor
A large, powerful butterfly closely related to the purple emperor but restricted to river valleys. Males display a brilliant purple-blue iridescence on the upper wing surface.
Did You Know?
Males patrol narrow sections of riverbank at high speed, chasing away all other large insects.