Blue Pansy vs African Giant Swallowtail

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Blue Pansy African Giant Swallowtail
Scientific Name Junonia orithya Papilio antimachus
Order Lepidoptera Lepidoptera
Family Nymphalidae Papilionidae
Size 40-60 mm wingspan 180-250 mm wingspan
Habitat Heathland Forests
Diet Nectar Feeders Nectar Feeders
Regions Southeast Asia (Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia, Indonesia, Philippines, Myanmar, Cambodia, Laos) Africa
Conservation Least Concern Data Deficient

Blue Pansy

A medium-sized butterfly with stunning bright blue hindwings bearing large eyespots and brown forewings with smaller orange-ringed ocelli. Males are more intensely blue than females.

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Did You Know?

The large eyespots on the hindwings are thought to deflect bird attacks toward the wing edge rather than the vulnerable body.

African Giant Swallowtail

The largest butterfly in Africa with a wingspan of up to 250 mm. It flies at great heights in the canopy and is rarely seen by casual observers.

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Did You Know?

It is believed to be toxic to predators and is one of the few butterflies that has no known mimics.