Dark-edged Bee-fly vs Small Apollo

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Dark-edged Bee-fly Small Apollo
Scientific Name Bombylius major discolor Parnassius phoebus
Order Diptera Lepidoptera
Family Bombyliidae Papilionidae
Size 8-12mm 50-60 mm wingspan
Habitat Deserts & Drylands Meadows
Diet Nectar Feeders Nectar Feeders
Regions Asia Central Europe
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

Dark-edged Bee-fly

A subspecies of the bee-fly with slightly different wing patterning found in eastern populations.

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Did You Know?

Hovers at spring flowers with its long rigid proboscis extended, looking remarkably like a furry hummingbird.

Small Apollo

A high-altitude alpine butterfly with translucent white wings bearing small red and black spots. It flies weakly over alpine meadows and scree slopes above the treeline.

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Did You Know?

It only occurs above the treeline in the Alps and is one of Europe's highest-altitude butterflies.