Papilio demodocus

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Papilio demodocus
Papilio demodocus

Papilio demodocus

Systematics
Class : Insects (Insecta)
Order : Butterflies (Lepidoptera)
Family : Knight Butterfly (Papilionidae)
Subfamily : Papilioninae
Genre : Papilio
Type : Papilio demodocus
Scientific name
Papilio demodocus
Esper , 1798

Papilio demodocus , also known by the English name Citrus Swallowtail ( "Citrus Swallowtail"), is a butterfly from the family of the swallowtail butterfly (Papilionidae).

features

The moths reach a wingspan of 90 to 110 millimeters. The forewings are black and are heavily pollinated with white scales around the body . In the submarginal region there is a series of white spots from the apex to the inner edge. Next to it, from the apex, another row, much larger, white spots runs through the post- disk region to the disk region and finally to the inner edge. This fuses from the disk region to form a band. On the rest of the wing there are few white spots of different sizes. The hind wings are also black. The corrugated outer edge has no tail process. There are six broad, white moonspots between the submarginal and post-disk regions. The bandage continues here in the disk region and becomes steadily thinner towards the inner edge. This band includes a black eye on the inner edge, which is blue and brown in the center. Another eye is in the anal angle. This is black, red, and blue. The hind wings are heavily pollinated with white scales except for the submarginal region.

The underside of the forewings is dark brown, but otherwise corresponds in shape and design to the upper side. The only exception are the scales, which are no longer there, which are replaced on the underside by four white longitudinal lines that melt towards the body. The underside of the hind wings is also dark brown and is very similar to the upper side. At the six moon spots there is now another yellow-blue row with spots. In the middle of the disk region there is a yellow-blue crescent moon spot on the band. There are now several white stripes in the basal region .

There is no gender difference in the wing pattern, both have the same wing markings and the same body, which is black on the one and has white stripes on the underside.

Similar species

Way of life

Caterpillar

There are three generations a year. The eggs are laid individually on leaves of citrus plants and rhombus plants (Rutaceae), in South Africa also on umbellifers (Apiaceae). Occasionally the eggs are also laid on other plants. However, the caterpillars do not develop normally. After six days, larvae hatch from the eggs . These are black with yellow or white spots. With a size of 10 to 15 mm they develop into green caterpillars with white or pink spots. These have a band with simulated eyes and grow to a size of 45 mm after about a month. They then pupate. The butterfly hatches after two to three weeks . In regions with pronounced seasons, the pupa hibernates.

distribution

Its distribution area is in the afrotropic fauna region ; it extends from Senegal via Somalia and Saudi Arabia , Yemen to Oman and south to South Africa . The occurrences in Mauritius , Réunion and the Comoros go back to recent immigration or to anthropogenic displacement.

Harmful effect

In anthropogenic habitats, the caterpillars feed almost exclusively on citrus plants , which can often lead to damage, especially on seedlings.

Systematics

The species is currently divided into two subspecies :

  • Papilio demodocus demodocus Esper, 1798
  • Papilio demodocus bennetti Dixon, 1898 ( Socotra Island ). It used to be seen as a separate species.

swell

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ a b c d butterflycorner.net: Papilio demodocus (accessed on February 22, 2009)
  2. ↑ a b Zakharov et al., 2004
  3. ↑ [1]

literature

  • Hans G. Schabel: Forest entomology in East Africa: forest insects of Tanzania. 328 pp., Springer Verlag, Dordrecht 2006, ISBN 1-402-04654-5 .
  • Evgueni V. Zakharov, Campbell R. Smith, David C. Lees, Alison Cameron, Richard I. Vane-Wright and Felix AH Sperling: Independent gene phylogenies and morphology demonstrate a Malagasy origin for a wide-ranging group of Swallowtail butterflies. In: evolution. Volume 58, No. 12 Oxford 2004, pp. 2763-2782, ISSN  0014-3820 , doi : 10.1554 / 04-293 .

Web links

Commons : Papilio demodocus  - collection of images, videos and audio files