Violet Longhorn vs Police Car Swallowtail
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Violet Longhorn | Police Car Swallowtail |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Callidium violaceum | Graphium policenes |
| Order | Coleoptera | Lepidoptera |
| Family | Cerambycidae | Papilionidae |
| Size | 8-16 mm | 60-75 mm wingspan |
| Habitat | Forests | Forests |
| Diet | Wood Feeders | Nectar Feeders |
| Regions | Europe, North America, Siberia | West and Central Africa (Ghana, Nigeria, Cameroon, DRC, Ivory Coast) |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
Violet Longhorn
A compact, flat cerambycid with a striking metallic violet coloration across its entire body. Widespread in conifer forests of the Northern Hemisphere, it breeds in dry dead conifer wood. Adults are occasionally found in houses after emerging from firewood.
Did You Know?
Larvae can survive in kiln-dried timber and have emerged from furniture and log cabin walls years after construction.
Police Car Swallowtail
A striking swallowtail butterfly with black wings covered in small pale green spots resembling a police car's livery. It has short hindwing tails and a rapid, darting flight. Common in forest areas throughout its range.
Did You Know?
Its common name comes from the black-and-white spotted pattern that was thought to resemble early police vehicles.