Corsican Swallowtail vs Japanese Red Dragonfly
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Corsican Swallowtail | Japanese Red Dragonfly |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Papilio hospiton | Sympetrum frequens |
| Order | Lepidoptera | Odonata |
| Family | Papilionidae | Libellulidae |
| Size | 68-76 mm wingspan | 35-45 mm |
| Habitat | Mountains | Ponds & Lakes |
| Diet | Omnivores | Omnivores |
| Regions | Corsica (France) and Sardinia (Italy) | East Asia, Japan |
| Conservation | Near Threatened | Least Concern |
Corsican Swallowtail
A large swallowtail endemic to the Mediterranean islands of Corsica and Sardinia with heavily patterned black and yellow wings. It is one of Europe's most threatened butterflies.
Did You Know?
It can hybridize with the common swallowtail where their ranges overlap, producing fertile hybrid offspring.
Japanese Red Dragonfly
Known as 'akane' or 'aka-tonbo' in Japanese, this red dragonfly is one of the most iconic insects in Japanese culture. Males turn bright red at maturity. Appears in large numbers in autumn.
Did You Know?
Red dragonflies are so symbolically important in Japan that the children's song 'Aka Tombo' (Red Dragonfly) is known by virtually every Japanese person.