Japanese Yellow Swallowtail vs Autumnal Moth
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Japanese Yellow Swallowtail | Autumnal Moth |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Papilio machaon hippocrates | Epirrita autumnata |
| Order | Lepidoptera | Lepidoptera |
| Family | Papilionidae | Geometridae |
| Size | 70-90 mm wingspan | 28-35 mm wingspan |
| Habitat | Mountains | Forests |
| Diet | Nectar Feeders | Herbivores |
| Regions | East Asia, Japan | Scandinavia, Finland, northern Russia, subarctic Siberia |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
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.
Did You Know?
This butterfly engages in 'hilltopping' behavior, where males fly to hilltops and ridges to establish territories and wait for females.
Autumnal Moth
A grayish-brown moth with faint wavy crosslines on the forewings. It flies in autumn in subarctic birch forests. Periodic outbreaks of its larvae can completely defoliate vast areas of mountain birch forest.
Did You Know?
Outbreaks of this moth in Scandinavian birch forests occur roughly every 10 years and can kill entire mountain birch forests across thousands of hectares.