Dainty Swallowtail vs Clipper Butterfly

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Dainty Swallowtail Clipper Butterfly
Scientific Name Papilio anactus Parthenos sylvia
Order Lepidoptera Lepidoptera
Family Papilionidae Nymphalidae
Size 60-80 mm wingspan 90-110 mm wingspan
Habitat Orchards Mountains
Diet Nectar Feeders Fruit Feeders
Regions Australia, Oceania Southeast Asia (Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, Philippines, Myanmar, Vietnam)
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

Dainty Swallowtail

A small, elegant swallowtail butterfly that is the most widespread Papilio species in Australia. It has black wings with rows of pale cream spots and subtle blue markings on the hindwings.

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Did You Know?

Unlike most swallowtails, the Dainty Swallowtail is well adapted to arid inland environments and even deserts.

Clipper Butterfly

A powerful gliding butterfly with broad wings marked in pale blue-green, brown, and white. It has a distinctive sailing flight style, gliding on stiffly held wings between trees.

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Did You Know?

It exists in multiple color forms across its range, with wing colors varying from bluish-green to honey-brown in different regions.