Dark Arches Moth vs Emerald Swallowtail

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Dark Arches Moth Emerald Swallowtail
Scientific Name Apamea monoglypha Papilio palinurus
Order Lepidoptera Lepidoptera
Family Noctuidae Papilionidae
Size 46-56 mm wingspan 80-100 mm wingspan
Habitat Farmland Forests
Diet Root Feeders Nectar Feeders
Regions Europe, Western Asia South America (Colombia, Ecuador, Peru)
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

Dark Arches Moth

A large, dark brown moth with complex darker markings and pale stigmata. It is one of the largest and most frequently trapped noctuids in Europe.

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Did You Know?

Larvae have been recorded feeding on other moth caterpillars when food is scarce.

Emerald Swallowtail

A stunning swallowtail butterfly with broad bands of emerald green on black wings. The green color is produced by yellow and blue structural layers overlapping. It has graceful spatulate tails on the hindwings.

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Did You Know?

The emerald green color is actually an optical illusion created by alternating layers of yellow and blue on the wing scales.