Short-winged Mold Beetle vs Spicebush Swallowtail

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Short-winged Mold Beetle Spicebush Swallowtail
Scientific Name Pselaphus heisei Papilio troilus
Order Coleoptera Lepidoptera
Family Staphylinidae Papilionidae
Size 1.5-2 mm Wingspan 90-130mm
Habitat Underground Underground
Diet Detritivores Herbivores
Regions Europe North America
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

Short-winged Mold Beetle

A tiny rove beetle with clubbed antennae that feeds on mites in leaf litter and soil. Its short wing cases and ant-like body make it distinctive.

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Did You Know?

It possesses specialized antennal clubs covered in sensory pits used for detecting prey in total darkness.

Spicebush Swallowtail

A dark swallowtail butterfly with blue-green hindwing scaling and orange spots. Its caterpillar has large false eyespots making it resemble a small snake.

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Did You Know?

The young caterpillar mimics a bird dropping while the older caterpillar switches to mimicking a green tree snake.