Narrow-bordered Bee Hawk-moth vs Birdwing Butterfly
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Narrow-bordered Bee Hawk-moth | Birdwing Butterfly |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Hemaris tityus | Ornithoptera alexandrae |
| Order | Lepidoptera | Lepidoptera |
| Family | Sphingidae | Papilionidae |
| Size | 38-45 mm wingspan | 210-310 mm wingspan |
| Habitat | Wetlands | Forests |
| Diet | Omnivores | Nectar Feeders |
| Regions | Europe, temperate Asia | Oceania |
| Conservation | Least Concern (declining in western Europe) | Endangered |
Narrow-bordered Bee Hawk-moth
A bumblebee mimic with largely transparent wings and a furry olive-and-brown body. It flies by day, hovering at flowers in a manner indistinguishable from a real bee.
Did You Know?
The wing scales fall off during its first flight, leaving the characteristic clear patches.
Birdwing Butterfly
The largest butterfly in the world with a wingspan up to 31 cm. Found only in a small area of Papua New Guinea. Females are larger but males have brighter blue-green coloring.
Did You Know?
Queen Alexandras birdwing is so large it was first collected by shooting it with a shotgun — it remains the worlds largest butterfly with a wingspan wider than a dinner plate.