Madagascar Swordtail Butterfly vs African Sand Wasp

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Madagascar Swordtail Butterfly African Sand Wasp
Scientific Name Graphium evombar Bembix capensis
Order Lepidoptera Hymenoptera
Family Papilionidae Crabronidae
Size 80-100 mm wingspan 15-22 mm
Habitat Forests Beaches & Coastal
Diet Nectar Feeders Nectar Feeders
Regions Madagascar Southern Africa
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

Madagascar Swordtail Butterfly

An elegant swallowtail butterfly with elongated sword-like tails on the hindwings and pale green to white bands across dark wings. It has a swift, gliding flight pattern through the forest canopy.

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Did You Know?

Males often gather in groups at damp patches on the ground to drink mineral-rich water, a behavior called mud-puddling.

African Sand Wasp

A fast-flying sand wasp with black and yellow banding that nests in sandy ground. Females provision nests with captured flies.

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Did You Know?

Females progressively feed their developing larvae with fresh flies over several days, unlike most wasps that mass-provision.