Chinese Windmill Butterfly vs Blue Mason Bee

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Chinese Windmill Butterfly Blue Mason Bee
Scientific Name Byasa alcinous Osmia caerulescens
Order Lepidoptera Hymenoptera
Family Papilionidae Megachilidae
Size Wingspan 75-95 mm 7-10 mm
Habitat Forests Gardens
Diet Nectar Feeders Nectar Feeders
Regions China, Japan, Korea, Taiwan Western Europe, Central Europe, Southern Europe
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

Chinese Windmill Butterfly

A dark swallowtail with red-spotted hindwings that rotates its wings in a slow windmill-like pattern during flight. It is widespread in East Asian lowland forests.

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Did You Know?

Its distinctive slow, spinning flight style gives it the common name windmill butterfly.

Blue Mason Bee

A small, metallic blue-black solitary bee that nests in pre-existing cavities in wood and walls. It is common in gardens and readily uses artificial bee hotels.

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Did You Know?

Females seal each egg cell with chewed leaf material mixed with mud.