Pale Triangle vs Dobsonfly

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Pale Triangle Dobsonfly
Scientific Name Graphium eurypylus Corydalus cornutus
Order Lepidoptera Neuroptera
Family Papilionidae Corydalidae
Size 6-7 cm wingspan 40-55 mm body, 125 mm wingspan
Habitat Rivers & Streams Rivers & Streams
Diet Nectar Feeders Omnivores
Regions Australia, Indonesia, Papua New Guinea North America
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

Pale Triangle

A fast-flying swallowtail with pale blue-green triangle markings on black wings. It frequently puddles on wet sand and mud along creek beds.

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Did You Know?

Males form dense congregations of up to hundreds on wet riverbanks to extract minerals from mud.

Dobsonfly

Large insects with intimidating mandibles in males that are actually too large to bite effectively. Aquatic hellgrammite larvae are prized as fishing bait and indicate clean water.

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Did You Know?

Male dobsonflies have terrifying mandibles up to 40 mm long, but they are so large the males cannot actually generate enough force to pinch — the females bite harder.