Emerald Swallowtail vs Spanish Festoon
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Emerald Swallowtail | Spanish Festoon |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Papilio palinurus | Zerynthia rumina |
| Order | Lepidoptera | Lepidoptera |
| Family | Papilionidae | Papilionidae |
| Size | 80-100 mm wingspan | 42-52 mm wingspan |
| Habitat | Forests | Heathland |
| Diet | Nectar Feeders | Nectar Feeders |
| Regions | South America (Colombia, Ecuador, Peru) | Southern Europe |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
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.
Did You Know?
The emerald green color is actually an optical illusion created by alternating layers of yellow and blue on the wing scales.
Spanish Festoon
A brightly patterned butterfly with zigzag black markings and red and yellow patches on its wings. It is a spring-flying species restricted to the western Mediterranean.
Did You Know?
Its caterpillar feeds on toxic birthwort plants, making both larva and adult distasteful to birds.