Great Mormon vs South American Swallowtail
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Great Mormon | South American Swallowtail |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Papilio memnon | Heraclides thoas |
| Order | Lepidoptera | Lepidoptera |
| Family | Papilionidae | Papilionidae |
| Size | Wingspan 120-150mm | 100-130 mm wingspan |
| Habitat | Underground | Orchards |
| Diet | Herbivores | Nectar Feeders |
| Regions | Asia | Brazil, Argentina, Central America, southern United States |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
Great Mormon
A large swallowtail butterfly where females come in multiple dramatically different forms mimicking various toxic butterfly species. Males are uniformly dark.
Did You Know?
Females exist in over 20 different color forms each mimicking a different toxic butterfly species for protection.
South American Swallowtail
A large swallowtail butterfly with black wings bearing bright yellow band patterns and prominent tail extensions. It is a strong, rapid flier.
Did You Know?
When threatened, its caterpillar extends a bright orange forked organ called an osmeterium that releases a foul smell.