Margined Colletes vs Citrus Swallowtail

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute	Margined Colletes	Citrus Swallowtail
Scientific Name	Colletes marginatus	Papilio demodocus
Order	Hymenoptera	Lepidoptera
Family	Colletidae	Papilionidae
Size	8-10 mm	90-120 mm wingspan
Habitat	Beaches & Coastal	Orchards
Diet	Nectar Feeders	Nectar Feeders
Regions	Europe	Sub-Saharan Africa, Madagascar
Conservation	Near Threatened	Least Concern

Margined Colletes

A small, pale plasterer bee found in sandy coastal habitats across Europe. It nests in loose sand and forages on wild mignonette and sea holly.

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Its dependence on both sandy nesting substrate and specialized coastal food plants makes it doubly vulnerable to habitat loss.

A common large swallowtail with cream and black patterned wings and blue-red eyespots on the hindwings. It is widespread across sub-Saharan Africa.

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Caterpillars have a forked orange osmeterium they inflate from behind their head to deter predators with a foul smell.