Sloe Bug vs Southern Festoon
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Sloe Bug | Southern Festoon |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Dolycoris baccarum | Zerynthia polyxena |
| Order | Hemiptera | Lepidoptera |
| Family | Pentatomidae | Papilionidae |
| Size | 10-12 mm | 46-56 mm wingspan |
| Habitat | Heathland | Heathland |
| Diet | Seed Feeders | Herbivores |
| Regions | Europe, Asia | Southern and eastern Europe |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern (protected in many countries) |
Sloe Bug
A medium-sized, purplish-brown shield bug with distinctive black and white banded antennae and a hairy body. It is common across Europe and feeds on a wide range of plants including sloe, hawthorn, and raspberry. The body has a dense covering of fine hairs.
Did You Know?
It is one of the hairiest shield bugs in Europe, covered in a dense fur of fine hairs that gives it a distinctly fuzzy appearance under magnification.
Southern Festoon
A strikingly patterned butterfly with yellow wings marked with black zigzags and red spots. It is one of Europe's earliest spring butterflies and resembles a small, ornate kite.
Did You Know?
Its larvae sequester toxic aristolochic acids from their food plant, making all life stages unpalatable to birds.