Papilio multicaudatus

Papilio multicaudatus
	Papilio multicaudatus
Systematics
Class :	Insects (Insecta)
Order :	Butterflies (Lepidoptera)
Family :	Knight Butterfly (Papilionidae)
Subfamily :	Papilioninae
Genre :	Papilio
Type :	Papilio multicaudatus
Scientific name
	Papilio multicaudatus
	( Kirby , 1884)

Papilio multicaudatus

Papilio Multicaudata , also known by the English name Two-tailed Tiger Swallowtail ( "two-tailed Tiger Swallowtail"), is a butterfly from the family of the swallowtail butterfly (Papilionidae).

features

butterfly

The moths reach a wingspan of 100 to 120 millimeters. The forewings are generally black in color, but apart from the submarginal region and the edge, they are completely characterized by a large yellow area. At the front edge, four black stripes intersect this area between the basal region and the disk region , in the disk region, between the disk region and the post-disk region and in the post- disk region . Except for the innermost stripe, all others extend to the middle of the wing. The innermost runs to the inner edge. The veins are highlighted in black in the yellow area, but fade towards the inner edge. In the disk region there is a small black point under the black stripe. Another, thinner black stripe runs from the submarginal region in the outermost stripe. In the submarginal region there is a series of yellow arc spots from the apex to the inner edge, which become steadily thinner towards the inner edge. Between this and the yellow area there is an indicated white band from the front edge to the inner edge. The outer edge is slightly piebald black and white. The hind wings are also black and, like the fore wings, have a large yellow area. However, this is only sufficient for the post-fiscal region. The innermost black stripe is continued here to the inner edge. Parallel to this, in the disk region, runs a much shorter black stripe. The black and white piebald outer edge is strongly wavy and therefore has almost two tail processes. Directly on the outer edge there is a row of yellow spots, which are increasingly colored red towards the anal angle. In the anal corner there is an eye which is filled with red, blue and orange colors. In addition to this, several circular, blue spots run in the post-disk region, which fade towards the front edge.

The underside of the forewings is very similar to the upper side, but the yellow is a little paler. The spots on the outer edge now merge into a bandage and the spots themselves are a bit thicker. The indicated, white band is now clearly visible. The underside of the rear wings has all the characteristics of the upper side, but these are increasingly found. The yellow is also a little paler here. In the yellow area there are two more stripes in the disk region under the shorter stripe.

There are no gender differences in the wing pattern, both have the same wing markings and the same body, which is black and has yellow stripes on the underside.

Egg, caterpillar and pupa

Caterpillar of Papilio multicaudatus

The eggs are green-yellow with red spots. The caterpillars are green with white rings and have indicated eyes on the back of the thorax . The pupa is green-brown and changes color to green-brown in the course of pupation.

Similar species

subspecies

Papilio multicaudatus pusillus

Geographical distribution and habitat

Its distribution area extends from Canada ( British Columbia ), over the western half of the USA , Mexico to Nicaragua . The species prefers to live in the higher regions (approx. 1400 m) at the foot of the mountains, prairies and gorges that are overgrown with pinyon pines .

Phenology and way of life

The moths fly in one generation in the northern part of the range; several generations are formed in the south. In the north, the flight time is around the end of May to June, in Texas from February to November and in Nicaragua practically all year round. The moths suck nectar from flowers, but occasionally also nutrients from puddles and damp places. The males are often busy all day looking for females. They do this especially at the bottom of ravines.

The eggs of the Papilio multicaudatus are laid individually on the leaves of the host plants.

The caterpillars feed on various Prunus species, rock pear ( Amelanchier ), Vauquelina californica , various ash species ( Fraxinus spp.), Various privet species ( Ligustrum spp.), Various elm-related species ( Ptelea spp.) And Platanus racemosa . Willows and California laurel ( Umbellularia californica ) are in doubt.

In the regions with distinct seasons, the pupae overwinter.

swell

Individual evidence

↑ npwrc.usgs.gov: Papilio multicaudatus ( Memento from January 26, 2008 in the Internet Archive ) (accessed on April 3, 2009)
↑ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f Scott, page 182

literature

Scott, James A .: The butterflies of North America . Stanford University Press, Stanford, California 1986, ISBN 0-8047-1205-0 , 632 pages.
N. Mark Collins, Michael G. Morris, and International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources: Threatened Swallowtail Butterflies of the World: The IUCN Red Data Book. IUCN, 1985, 401 pages, ISBN 2880326036

Remarks

↑ The species is often listed in the literature and on the web under the species name Papilio multicaudata . According to the IRZN , the gender of the species name must be adapted to the gender of the genus. Papilio is masculine; the Latin name of the butterfly is therefore Papilio multicaudatus .

Web links

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

Butterflies and Moths of North America - Description and distribution of Papilio multicaudata in the USA

[c1-2] wrc.usgs.gov: Papilio multicaudatus ( Memento from January 26, 2008 in the Internet Archive ) (accessed on April 3, 2009)

[Scott-3] ↑ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f Scott, page 182

[1] The species is often listed in the literature and on the web under the species name Papilio multicaudata . According to the IRZN , the gender of the species name must be adapted to the gender of the genus. Papilio is masculine; the Latin name of the butterfly is therefore Papilio multicaudatus .