Wood White vs Madagascan Giant Swallowtail

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Wood White Madagascan Giant Swallowtail
Scientific Name Leptidea sinapis Pharmacophagus antenor
Order Lepidoptera Lepidoptera
Family Pieridae Papilionidae
Size 36-48 mm wingspan 100-120 mm wingspan
Habitat Meadows Forests
Diet Omnivores Nectar Feeders
Regions Europe, western Asia Madagascar
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

Wood White

A delicate, fluttery butterfly with rounded white wings and a small grey wingtip patch. It has a weak, dancing flight close to the ground.

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Did You Know?

It was recently discovered to be a complex of three cryptic species indistinguishable by appearance alone.

Madagascan Giant Swallowtail

A large black swallowtail butterfly with red and white markings, endemic to Madagascar. It is the island's largest butterfly species.

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Did You Know?

Larvae sequester toxic aristolochic acids from their host plant, making them unpalatable to birds.