Madagascar Swordtail Butterfly vs Common Sootywing

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Madagascar Swordtail Butterfly Common Sootywing
Scientific Name Graphium evombar Pholisora catullus
Order Lepidoptera Lepidoptera
Family Papilionidae Hesperiidae
Size 80-100 mm wingspan 22-28 mm wingspan
Habitat Forests Gardens
Diet Nectar Feeders Nectar Feeders
Regions Madagascar United States and southern Canada
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.

Common Sootywing

A very small sooty-black skipper with scattered tiny white spots on the forewings. It is a common but easily overlooked butterfly of disturbed habitats and gardens.

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Did You Know?

It thrives in weedy urban areas that most butterflies avoid, making it a true butterfly of the city.