Scarce Swallowtail vs Brown Willow Beetle

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Scarce Swallowtail Brown Willow Beetle
Scientific Name Iphiclides podalirius Galerucella lineola
Order Lepidoptera Coleoptera
Family Papilionidae Chrysomelidae
Size Wingspan 64-84mm 4-6 mm
Habitat Heathland Rivers & Streams
Diet Herbivores Herbivores
Regions Europe, Asia Europe
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

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.

Brown Willow Beetle

A small brown beetle that feeds on willow leaves and can cause significant defoliation. Has been used as a biological control agent for purple loosestrife in North America.

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Did You Know?

A close relative was deliberately introduced to North America as biological control for invasive purple loosestrife.