Chinch Bug vs Japanese Swallowtail
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Chinch Bug | Japanese Swallowtail |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Blissus leucopterus | Papilio xuthus |
| Order | Hemiptera | Lepidoptera |
| Family | Blissidae | Papilionidae |
| Size | 3-4 mm | Wingspan 70-90 mm |
| Habitat | Gardens | Gardens |
| Diet | Sap Feeders | Nectar Feeders |
| Regions | North America | Japan, China, Korea, Taiwan |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
Chinch Bug
A tiny black and white bug that is one of the most destructive pests of cereal crops and lawn grasses in North America. Adults have distinctive white wings folded flat over the back. Large populations can kill entire swathes of turf grass.
Did You Know?
In the late 1800s, massive outbreaks destroyed so much wheat in the Great Plains that farmers built tar-filled trenches across fields to trap migrating chinch bug armies.
Japanese Swallowtail
A common Asian swallowtail with pale yellow wings striped with black tiger-like bands. It is one of the most frequently seen butterflies in Japanese gardens.
Did You Know?
Its caterpillars have a forked osmeterium that emits a foul smell to deter birds and wasps.