Needlefly vs Dragon Swallowtail

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Needlefly Dragon Swallowtail
Scientific Name Leuctra inermis Sericinus montela
Order Plecoptera Lepidoptera
Family Leuctridae Papilionidae
Size 6-9 mm 52-70 mm wingspan
Habitat Rivers & Streams Rivers & Streams
Diet Detritivores Omnivores
Regions Europe China, Korea, Russian Far East
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

Needlefly

A slender stonefly that rolls its wings tightly around its body at rest, resembling a needle. Nymphs shred leaf litter in small streams.

💡

Did You Know?

The tightly rolled wings make the adult appear to have no wings at all when viewed from above.

Dragon Swallowtail

A delicate white swallowtail with black veins and red spots, bearing long spatulate tails. It has a weak fluttering flight close to the ground.

💡

Did You Know?

It belongs to a primitive lineage of swallowtails that diverged from other papilionids over 60 million years ago.