Spicebush Swallowtail vs Elm Cimbicid Sawfly

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Spicebush Swallowtail Elm Cimbicid Sawfly
Scientific Name Papilio troilus Cimbex luteus
Order Lepidoptera Hymenoptera
Family Papilionidae Cimbicidae
Size Wingspan 90-130mm 18-25 mm
Habitat Underground Parks
Diet Herbivores Herbivores
Regions North America Europe
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

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.

Elm Cimbicid Sawfly

A large, pale yellowish sawfly with conspicuous knobbed antennae. It is associated with elm trees where the large green larvae feed.

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Did You Know?

This species has become less commonly recorded following the decline of elm populations due to Dutch elm disease across Europe.