Transparent Burnet vs Chinese Windmill Butterfly

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Transparent Burnet Chinese Windmill Butterfly
Scientific Name Zygaena purpuralis Byasa alcinous
Order Lepidoptera Lepidoptera
Family Zygaenidae Papilionidae
Size 28-35 mm wingspan Wingspan 75-95 mm
Habitat Grasslands Forests
Diet Nectar Feeders Nectar Feeders
Regions Europe China, Japan, Korea, Taiwan
Conservation Near Threatened Least Concern

Transparent Burnet

A day-flying moth with semi-transparent red-streaked forewings. It is found in calcareous grasslands where wild thyme grows.

💡

Did You Know?

Its caterpillars feed exclusively on wild thyme, making it entirely dependent on this one plant.

Chinese Windmill Butterfly

A dark swallowtail with red-spotted hindwings that rotates its wings in a slow windmill-like pattern during flight. It is widespread in East Asian lowland forests.

💡

Did You Know?

Its distinctive slow, spinning flight style gives it the common name windmill butterfly.