Bee Chafer vs Japanese Spicebush Swallowtail

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Bee Chafer Japanese Spicebush Swallowtail
Scientific Name Trichius rosaceus Papilio protenor
Order Coleoptera Lepidoptera
Family Scarabaeidae Papilionidae
Size 9-13mm 80-120 mm wingspan
Habitat Gardens Gardens
Diet Pollen Feeders Nectar Feeders
Regions Europe East Asia, Japan/Korea
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

Bee Chafer

A furry bumblebee-mimicking flower beetle with yellow and black bands. Visits roses and other garden flowers.

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Did You Know?

So convincingly mimics a bumblebee that many people refuse to pick it up, believing it will sting.

Japanese Spicebush Swallowtail

A striking all-black swallowtail known as 'kuro-ageha' in Japanese. The hindwings have subtle red and blue markings. Common in wooded areas and gardens across Japan and Korea.

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Did You Know?

The caterpillars of this species have a remarkable snake-mimicry defense, with large eyespots on their thorax that resemble a snake's head.