Giant Charaxes vs Japanese Yellow Swallowtail

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Giant Charaxes Japanese Yellow Swallowtail
Scientific Name Charaxes castor Papilio machaon hippocrates
Order Lepidoptera Lepidoptera
Family Nymphalidae Papilionidae
Size 75-95 mm wingspan 70-90 mm wingspan
Habitat Grasslands Mountains
Diet Sap Feeders Nectar Feeders
Regions Sub-Saharan Africa East Asia, Japan
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

Giant Charaxes

One of the largest charaxes butterflies with powerful tawny-orange wings with black borders. It has two short tails on each hindwing.

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Did You Know?

They are such powerful fliers that they can be heard making a distinct rustling noise as they fly past.

Japanese Yellow Swallowtail

The Japanese subspecies of the Old World swallowtail, known as 'ki-ageha.' A large and elegant butterfly with bright yellow wings marked with black patterns and blue hindwing spots.

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Did You Know?

This butterfly engages in 'hilltopping' behavior, where males fly to hilltops and ridges to establish territories and wait for females.