Eastern Tiger Swallowtail vs Pea Moth

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Eastern Tiger Swallowtail Pea Moth
Scientific Name Papilio glaucus Cydia nigricana
Order Lepidoptera Lepidoptera
Family Papilionidae Tortricidae
Size 79-140 mm wingspan 12-15 mm wingspan
Habitat Rivers & Streams Gardens
Diet Nectar Feeders Herbivores
Regions North America Europe
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

Eastern Tiger Swallowtail

A large yellow butterfly with bold black tiger stripes and blue and orange markings on the hindwing margins. Females can occur in a dark morph mimicking the toxic pipevine swallowtail.

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Did You Know?

The caterpillar has large false eyespots and can evert an orange forked gland called an osmeterium that emits a foul smell to deter predators.

Pea Moth

A small tortrix moth whose larvae feed inside pea pods. A significant pest of commercial and garden peas. Adults fly in June-July when peas are flowering.

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Did You Know?

Finding a maggot in your fresh garden peas almost certainly means a pea moth larva has been at work.