Hodges#4168
Papilio indra
Classification
- Phylum: Arthropoda
- Subphylum: Hexapoda
- Class: Insecta
- Order: Lepidoptera
- Superfamily: Papilionoidea
- Family: Papilionidae
- Subfamily: Papilioninae
- Tribe: Papilionini
- Genus: Papilio
- Species: indra
Pronunciation
How to pronounce Papilio indra: /pəˈpɪlioʊ ˈɪndrə/
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Images
Summary
Papilio indra, known as the Indra swallowtail, is a western North American butterfly belonging to the family Papilionidae. It features distinctive black wings with blue crescent markings and has a varied habitat across different elevations.
Physical Characteristics
The Indra swallowtail is a black butterfly with minimal blue and whitish markings. It is similar in coloration to the black swallowtail and short-tailed swallowtail, characterized by a very short tail and dark blue crescents on the topside of the hindwing.
Identification Tips
Look for the black coloration with minimal blue markings and the absence of tails compared to similar swallowtail species.
Habitat
P. indra inhabits a variety of ecosystems, from sea level to several thousand feet in elevation, including cities, pristine forested regions, remote high deserts, prairies, and montane habitats.
Distribution
Geographically found in the western half of North America, ranging from extreme southern British Columbia, through Washington, Oregon, California (to northern Baja California, Mexico), around the Rockies in Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, Nevada, Utah, Colorado, and south to Arizona and New Mexico, with sightings as far east as western Nebraska and South Dakota.
Diet
Larvae feed on plants from the Apiaceae family, including parsley and wild carrot.
Life Cycle
The Indra swallowtail has one brood per year, flying in spring in southern or lower altitudes and early summer in northern or higher altitudes.
Similar Taxa
Tags
- butterfly
- swallowtail
- Papilio indra