Papilio rutulus
Papilio rutulus
Papilio rutulus, sometimes analogous to the English term ( Western Tiger Swallowtail ) called the Western Tiger Swallowtail, is a butterfly of the family of Swallowtail Butterfly ( Papilionidae ). Some authors it is only considered as a subspecies of Papilio glaucus.
- 3.1 Flight Times
- 3.2 food of the caterpillars
- 5.1 Notes and references
- 5.2 Literature
- 5.3 Online Sources
Features
The moths reach a wingspan of 70 to 100 millimeters. They have yellow forewings, which run on four black stripes across; these are towards the wing tip shorter, so that the fourth is only hinted at. The outer edge is wide colored black, with right on the edge of small yellow spots are included. The hind wings are also yellow and have a wide black outer edge joins onto the front wings and the slightly larger yellow spots involving. In addition, the first tiger stripes of the front wing there is - thin tapering - on the hind wings on. On the hind wings you can see the typical for the family tail, which are black in color and have only a very fine yellow edge inwards. Between the black border of the hind wings and the tail sits a black eye with blue-gray core; among them is a red spot. Left and right of this eye are each a gray-blue stain to detect. Next to the black hind wings the edge slightly bluish gestäubte, black spots are more visible. These spots are much more pronounced glaucus at the very similar Papilio. The underwings are the same as the top sides colored, the yellow spots on the edge of the forewing merge, the blue areas of the hind wings are a little clearer and the black edge binding is broken to some extent. One of the area enclosed by the black border yellow spots of the hind wings is colored partly orange. Papilio glaucus, of these orange spots on multiple. The body of the butterfly is essentially black, colored extended at the sides but yellow.
The caterpillars are about 50 mm long. They are green and have a dark ring with big yellow eye spots that are cored black and blue.
Similar Species
- Papilio glaucus
- Papilio multicaudata
- Papilio Pilumnus
Occurrence
The animals are found in large parts of the Nearctic. They are spread from the West Coast of the U.S. in Oregon, Idaho and Washington as far as British Columbia in Canada. In the eastern part of the USA they are displaced from Papilio glaucus.
Way of life
The butterfly basking often and fly only when disturbed. They are found rarely nectar eyes, sometimes they suck in mud puddles and water and nutrient salts on.
Flight Times
They fly every year in one to three generations.
Food of the caterpillars
The caterpillars feed on the leaves of various deciduous trees such as Platanus racemosa, aspen (Populus tremula ), willow (Salix spp.), Plum (Prunus domestica), Common lilac (Syringa vulgaris) and ash (Fraxinus spp.). But sit tulip trees ( Liriodendron ) and apples (Malus ) from, unlike caterpillars of the very closely related Papilio glaucus ssp. glaucus ( tulip trees and apples) and Papilio glaucus ssp. canadensis ( apples). Sometimes, however, females lay eggs on these unsuitable species and the caterpillars starve after hatching.
Development
The females lay about 100 of their intense green, glossy eggs singly on the underside of the leaves of their food plants. After about four days the larvae hatch. After five molts they are fully grown. Pupation takes place or brown-gray (autumn ) Belt doll in a green (summer). In summer, the pupa is only about 15 days. Animals pupate before the winter, hatch, depending on the prevailing temperatures after a hibernation in the spring from February to May