Neotropical Cotton Stainer vs Scarce Swallowtail

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Neotropical Cotton Stainer Scarce Swallowtail
Scientific Name Dysdercus peruvianus Iphiclides podalirius
Order Hemiptera Lepidoptera
Family Pyrrhocoridae Papilionidae
Size 12-17 mm Wingspan 64-84mm
Habitat Heathland Heathland
Diet Seed Feeders Herbivores
Regions Peru, Brazil, Ecuador, Colombia Europe, Asia
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

Neotropical Cotton Stainer

A bright red and black seed bug that feeds on cotton bolls and malvaceous plants. Its feeding stains cotton fibers, reducing commercial value.

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Did You Know?

Its vivid red and black warning colors advertise chemical defenses that make it taste repulsive to bird predators.

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.