Spanish Festoon vs Red-tipped Flower Beetle

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Spanish Festoon Red-tipped Flower Beetle
Scientific Name Zerynthia rumina Malachius bipustulatus
Order Lepidoptera Coleoptera
Family Papilionidae Melyridae
Size 42-52 mm wingspan 5-7 mm
Habitat Heathland Underground
Diet Nectar Feeders Nectar Feeders
Regions Southern Europe Europe
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

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.

Red-tipped Flower Beetle

A small metallic green beetle with bright red tips on each elytron. Males can evert orange vesicles from their thorax as a display.

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Did You Know?

Males produce pheromone-laden secretions from thoracic vesicles that females lick during courtship.