Postman Butterfly vs Striped Alder Sawfly

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Postman Butterfly Striped Alder Sawfly
Scientific Name Heliconius melpomene Hemichroa crocea
Order Lepidoptera Hymenoptera
Family Nymphalidae Tenthredinidae
Size Wingspan 55-80mm 7-9 mm
Habitat Forests Rivers & Streams
Diet Herbivores Herbivores
Regions South America, North America North America, Europe
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

Postman Butterfly

A slender long-winged butterfly with black wings and a bold red band across the forewings. It is a classic example of Mullerian mimicry.

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Did You Know?

It is one of the few butterflies that can digest pollen as well as nectar giving it amino acids that extend its lifespan to several months.

Striped Alder Sawfly

A brightly colored sawfly with an orange body and black markings on the thorax. Larvae are pale yellowish-green with dark dorsal stripes and feed on alder and birch.

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Did You Know?

This species can reproduce both sexually and parthenogenetically, with unfertilized eggs developing into males.