Metallic Green Leaf Beetle vs Scarce Swallowtail

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Metallic Green Leaf Beetle Scarce Swallowtail
Scientific Name Plagiodera versicolora Iphiclides podalirius
Order Coleoptera Lepidoptera
Family Chrysomelidae Papilionidae
Size 3-5 mm Wingspan 64-84mm
Habitat Wetlands Heathland
Diet Herbivores Herbivores
Regions Europe, Asia, North America Europe, Asia
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

Metallic Green Leaf Beetle

A small, rounded beetle with shiny metallic blue-green to dark green elytra. It is one of the most common willow-feeding beetles in the Northern Hemisphere.

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Did You Know?

It can produce multiple generations per year and may overwinter as adults in bark crevices and leaf litter near willow stands.

Scarce Swallowtail

A pale yellow swallowtail butterfly with bold black tiger stripes and long tailed hindwings tipped with blue. It soars elegantly on updrafts.

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Did You Know?

Males gather in large numbers at hilltops in a behavior called hilltopping to increase their chances of finding mates.