Green Dragontail vs Large Tortoiseshell
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Green Dragontail | Large Tortoiseshell |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Lamproptera meges | Nymphalis polychloros |
| Order | Lepidoptera | Lepidoptera |
| Family | Papilionidae | Nymphalidae |
| Size | 40-55 mm wingspan, tails up to 30 mm | 54-65 mm wingspan |
| Habitat | Rivers & Streams | Orchards |
| Diet | Nectar Feeders | Omnivores |
| Regions | Southeast Asia (Thailand, Malaysia, Vietnam, Indonesia, Myanmar, Laos, Cambodia) | Europe, North Africa, temperate Asia |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern (extinct in Britain) |
Green Dragontail
A diminutive swallowtail butterfly with translucent green-tinted wings and extraordinarily long, slender tail streamers on the hindwings. It hovers like a hummingbird while feeding.
Did You Know?
It is one of the smallest swallowtails in the world and its hovering flight, combined with translucent wings, makes it look like a tiny dragonfly.
Large Tortoiseshell
A large orange butterfly with dark spots resembling a scaled-up small tortoiseshell, once widespread in Britain but now effectively extinct there. It hibernates as an adult in tree hollows.
Did You Know?
Its decline in Britain is thought to be linked to Dutch elm disease destroying its primary food plant.