Dobsonfly vs Dragon Swallowtail
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Dobsonfly | Dragon Swallowtail |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Corydalus cornutus | Sericinus montela |
| Order | Neuroptera | Lepidoptera |
| Family | Corydalidae | Papilionidae |
| Size | 40-55 mm body, 125 mm wingspan | 52-70 mm wingspan |
| Habitat | Rivers & Streams | Rivers & Streams |
| Diet | Omnivores | Omnivores |
| Regions | North America | China, Korea, Russian Far East |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
Dobsonfly
Large insects with intimidating mandibles in males that are actually too large to bite effectively. Aquatic hellgrammite larvae are prized as fishing bait and indicate clean water.
Did You Know?
Male dobsonflies have terrifying mandibles up to 40 mm long, but they are so large the males cannot actually generate enough force to pinch — the females bite harder.
Dragon Swallowtail
A delicate white swallowtail with black veins and red spots, bearing long spatulate tails. It has a weak fluttering flight close to the ground.
Did You Know?
It belongs to a primitive lineage of swallowtails that diverged from other papilionids over 60 million years ago.