Plum Sawfly vs Citrus Swallowtail

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Plum Sawfly Citrus Swallowtail
Scientific Name Hoplocampa flava Papilio demodocus
Order Hymenoptera Lepidoptera
Family Tenthredinidae Papilionidae
Size 4-6 mm 90-120 mm wingspan
Habitat Orchards Orchards
Diet Fruit Feeders Nectar Feeders
Regions Europe Sub-Saharan Africa, Madagascar
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

Plum Sawfly

A small, yellowish-brown sawfly that is a pest of plum orchards. Larvae bore into developing plum fruitlets, causing them to drop prematurely.

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Did You Know?

Larvae can be detected by their distinctive wet frass, which oozes from entry holes in young plum fruitlets.

Citrus Swallowtail

A common large swallowtail with cream and black patterned wings and blue-red eyespots on the hindwings. It is widespread across sub-Saharan Africa.

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Did You Know?

Caterpillars have a forked orange osmeterium they inflate from behind their head to deter predators with a foul smell.