Papilio demoleus
Papilio demoleus
Papilio demoleus, also known by the English name Chequered Swallowtail ( Chequered Swallowtail ) is a butterfly of the family of Swallowtail Butterfly ( Papilionidae ).
- 4.1 Literature
Features
Butterfly
The moths reach a wingspan of 80 to 90 millimeters. The species occurs with yellow or white spots; however, the forewing are always black. In the cell, there are four rows of small yellow or white dots, melting polar bodies. In the Submarginalregion is from the apex to the inner edge, a chain of yellow or white spots. On the rest of the wing is more yellow or white patches that vary in size spread. The outer edge is pied yellow or white and black. The hind wings are black. The corrugated outer edge has no tails. Between submarginal and Postdiskalregion there are six broad, yellow or white moon spots. Between basal and Diskalregion characterizes a broad, yellow or white band the wing which direction the inner edge is steadily thinner. This binder includes at the front edge a a black eye. In Analwinkel is a red eye. The basal region are heavily dusted with yellow or white scales.
The underside of the forewing is very similar to the top, but all Merkmel are now but to a larger extent. The only exception is the cell, which is now marked by four yellow or white stripes. The underside of the hind wings also resembles strongly the top, but all features are now available to a larger extent. In the Postdiskalregion are also several yellow or white spots that have a blue tint. In the basal region, there is a yellow or white area with black lines.
There are wing pattern no gender differences, both have the same wing drawings and the same body, which on the top and black on the bottom is yellow or white.
Similar Species
Subspecies
Currently, six subspecies are distinguished ( according to Zakharov et al, 2004. )
- Papilio demoleus demoleus ( Linnaeus, 1758 ) (China, South Asia, Pakistan to the Arabian Peninsula)
- Papilio demoleus Libanius ( Fruhstorfer, 1908) (Philippines, Talaud Islands, Sula Islands and Taiwan)
- Papilio demoleus malayanus ( Wallace, 1865) (Malay Peninsula and Sumatra)
- Papilio demoleus novoguineensis ( Rothschild) (Papua New Guinea)
- Papilio demoleus sthenelinus ( Rothschild) (Flores and Alor )
- Papilio demoleus Sthenelus ( Macleay, 1826) ( Sumba and Australia)
Distribution and occurrence
The distribution is in the indoaustralischen ecozone, where the species often common. In the west it extends to the Arabian Peninsula. It inhabits the tropical and subtropical forests, but also anthropogenic habitats. Meanwhile, he has already been deported to the Dominican Republic. He also was first sighted in 2012 in Europe, although it is still unclear whether this will remain a Einzelsichtung.
Way of life
The moths of Papilio demoleus lay their eggs before and after the monsoon. Eggs are laid singly on the leaves. The caterpillars feed exclusively on citrus plants (Citrus ), which often leads to harmful occurrence.