Hodges#4163

Papilio brevicauda

Classification

Phylum: Arthropoda
Subphylum: Hexapoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera
Superfamily: Papilionoidea
Family: Papilionidae
Subfamily: Papilioninae
Tribe: Papilionini
Genus: Papilio
Species: brevicauda

Pronunciation

How to pronounce Papilio brevicauda: /pəˈpɪlioʊ ˌbrɛvɪˈkɔːdə/

These audio files are automatically generated. While they are not always 100% accurate, they are a good starting point.

Images

Short-tailed Swallowtail, Elliston by D. Gordon E. Robertson. Used under a CC BY-SA 3.0 license.

Short-tailed Swallowtail (Papilio brevicauda) - Cape St. Mary's Ecological Reserve, Newfoundland 2019-08-10 by Ryan Hodnett. Used under a CC BY-SA 4.0 license.

Short-tailed Swallowtail (Papilio brevicauda) - Gros Morne National Park, Newfoundland 2019-08-20 by Ryan Hodnett. Used under a CC BY-SA 4.0 license.

Short-tailed Swallowtail (Papilio brevicauda) - Pouch Cove, Newfoundland 2019-08-11 by Ryan Hodnett. Used under a CC BY-SA 4.0 license.

Summary

Papilio brevicauda, the short-tailed swallowtail, is a North American butterfly in the family Papilionidae, recognized for its distinct appearance and habitat preferences. It has a wingspan of 57-73 mm and is primarily found in coastal areas of the maritime provinces of Canada.

Physical Characteristics

Adult wings rounded, black, crossed by double row of yellow spots, often with an orange wash. Hindwing has red-orange eye-spot with black center; tails generally quite short. Larvae early instars are brown with a white saddle resembling a bird dropping; later instars have green-and-black bands with yellow dots on black.

Identification Tips

Similar to male black swallowtail (Papilio polyxenes) but distinguished by shorter tails and rounder forewing tips. Yellow bands on wings often appear more orange, particularly in the eastern part of its range.

Habitat

Found in gardens near larval food plants; coastal areas along grassy clifftops and rocky beaches; inland meadows and mountainous areas close to the treeline.

Distribution

Maritime provinces of Canada: Newfoundland, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, and eastern Quebec along southern shore of the Gulf of St. Lawrence.

Diet

Larvae feed on cow-parsnip (Heracleum spp.), Angelica (Angelica atropurpurea), and Scotch lovage (Ligusticum scoticum).

Life Cycle

One brood per year, occasionally a second partial brood. Males await females on hilltops. Females lay eggs singly on host plant leaves. Eggs become reddish-brown and larvae transition from pale green to creamish-green with black bands and yellow/orange spots.

Reproduction

Eggs are laid singly on the leaves of host plants. The eggs are cream and later develop a reddish-brown ring.

Ecosystem Role

Pollinator that plays a role in the food web as both herbivore (in larval stage) and prey for various predators.

Evolution

Molecular studies suggest that P. brevicauda might be a subspecies of P. machaon.