Copper-tailed Cuckoo Wasp vs Orchard Swallowtail

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Copper-tailed Cuckoo Wasp Orchard Swallowtail
Scientific Name Chrysis succincta Papilio aegeus
Order Hymenoptera Lepidoptera
Family Chrysididae Papilionidae
Size 5-9 mm 9-12 cm wingspan
Habitat Woodlands Woodlands
Diet Nectar Feeders Nectar Feeders
Regions Europe Australia, Papua New Guinea
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

Copper-tailed Cuckoo Wasp

A medium-sized cuckoo wasp with a metallic green forebody and a warm coppery-gold abdomen. It parasitizes the nests of cavity-nesting solitary bees.

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Did You Know?

Its heavy, pitted exoskeleton acts like armor plating, protecting it from the stings of host wasps defending their nests.

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.