Camberwell Beauty vs Orchard Swallowtail

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Camberwell Beauty Orchard Swallowtail
Scientific Name Nymphalis antiopa Papilio aegeus
Order Lepidoptera Lepidoptera
Family Nymphalidae Papilionidae
Size 62-86 mm wingspan 9-12 cm wingspan
Habitat Rivers & Streams Woodlands
Diet Sap Feeders Nectar Feeders
Regions Europe, Asia, North America Australia, Papua New Guinea
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

Camberwell Beauty

A large, velvety maroon butterfly with a broad creamy-yellow wing border and a row of blue spots. It is a rare migrant to Britain but common across much of the Northern Hemisphere.

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Did You Know?

Adults hibernate through the winter and can live for over 11 months, making them one of the longest-lived butterflies.

Orchard Swallowtail

A large black swallowtail where females display white and red markings mimicking toxic butterflies. Males are mostly black with a row of pale spots.

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Did You Know?

Its caterpillars resemble bird droppings when young, providing excellent camouflage from predators.