Spanish Festoon vs Long-legged Oil Bee

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Spanish Festoon Long-legged Oil Bee
Scientific Name Zerynthia rumina Rediviva longimanus
Order Lepidoptera Hymenoptera
Family Papilionidae Melittidae
Size 42-52 mm wingspan 12-15 mm
Habitat Heathland Heathland
Diet Nectar Feeders Nectar Feeders
Regions Southern Europe South Africa
Conservation Least Concern Data Deficient

Spanish Festoon

A brightly patterned butterfly with zigzag black markings and red and yellow patches on its wings. It is a spring-flying species restricted to the western Mediterranean.

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Did You Know?

Its caterpillar feeds on toxic birthwort plants, making both larva and adult distasteful to birds.

Long-legged Oil Bee

An extraordinary South African bee whose front legs are nearly twice its body length, the longest of any bee relative to body size. It uses these to collect oils from long-spurred flowers.

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Did You Know?

The coevolution between its leg length and Diascia spur length is one of the most famous examples of a pollination arms race.