Chinese Windmill vs Lange's Metalmark Butterfly
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Chinese Windmill | Lange's Metalmark Butterfly |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Atrophaneura alcinous | Apodemia mormo langei |
| Order | Lepidoptera | Lepidoptera |
| Family | Papilionidae | Riodinidae |
| Size | Wingspan 75-100mm | 2.5-3.5 cm wingspan |
| Habitat | Underground | Beaches & Coastal |
| Diet | Herbivores | Herbivores |
| Regions | Asia | United States |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Endangered |
Chinese Windmill
A dark swallowtail butterfly with crimson patches on the hindwings and a slow fluttering flight. The body is red indicating toxicity.
Did You Know?
Its slow fluttering flight resembles a windmill and advertises its toxicity acquired from poisonous aristolochia plants.
Lange's Metalmark Butterfly
A small metalmark butterfly found only at Antioch Dunes in California. Its larvae feed exclusively on naked-stemmed buckwheat.
Did You Know?
It was one of the first insects listed under the U.S. Endangered Species Act in 1976.