Gold Swift vs Emerald Swallowtail
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Gold Swift | Emerald Swallowtail |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Phymatopus hecta | Papilio palinurus |
| Order | Lepidoptera | Lepidoptera |
| Family | Hepialidae | Papilionidae |
| Size | 25-35 mm wingspan | 80-100 mm wingspan |
| Habitat | Heathland | Forests |
| Diet | Root Feeders | Nectar Feeders |
| Regions | Europe | South America (Colombia, Ecuador, Peru) |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
Gold Swift
A small primitive moth with golden-brown forewings marked with silvery-white spots. Males perform hovering display flights at dusk, dangling their legs and releasing pheromones.
Did You Know?
Larvae feed underground on bracken roots for two years before pupating in the soil.
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.