Citrus Swallowtail vs Rounded Metalmark

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Citrus Swallowtail Rounded Metalmark
Scientific Name Papilio demodocus Calephelis perditalis
Order Lepidoptera Lepidoptera
Family Papilionidae Riodinidae
Size 90-120 mm wingspan 20-26 mm wingspan
Habitat Orchards Forests
Diet Nectar Feeders Omnivores
Regions Sub-Saharan Africa, Madagascar South Texas, northeastern Mexico
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

Citrus Swallowtail

A common large swallowtail with cream and black patterned wings and blue-red eyespots on the hindwings. It is widespread across sub-Saharan Africa.

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Did You Know?

Caterpillars have a forked orange osmeterium they inflate from behind their head to deter predators with a foul smell.

Rounded Metalmark

A small reddish-brown metalmark with distinctly rounded wing margins and two rows of metallic silvery spots. It is found in subtropical scrublands near the Mexican border.

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Did You Know?

It is so obscure that some populations were only discovered through targeted surveys of rare habitat in the Rio Grande Valley.