Papilio indra

Reakirt, 1866

Indra Swallowtail, Short-tailed Black Swallowtail, Cliff Swallowtail

Papilio indra is a western North American swallowtail distinguished by its predominantly black coloration with minimal blue and whitish markings. The exhibits a notably short tail and dark blue crescents on the topside of the hindwing. It occupies diverse elevations from sea level to montane and has been documented in ranging from urban areas to remote high deserts and pristine forests. The Indra swallowtail completes one annually, with timing varying by latitude and elevation.

Papilio indra by no rights reserved, uploaded by Robbie Hannawacker. Used under a CC0 license.

Papilio indra minori by the Smithsonian. Used under a CC0 license.

Pronunciation

How to pronounce Papilio indra: /pəˈpɪlioʊ ˈɪndrə/

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

Identification

Distinguished from similar black swallowtails by its very short tail and reduced pale markings. The dark blue crescents on the hindwing topside are characteristic. Overlaps geographically with Papilio polyxenes (black swallowtail) and Papilio brevicauda (short-tailed swallowtail), but P. indra's minimal whitish markings and specific blue crescent pattern aid separation.

Images

Appearance

A black with minimal blue and whitish markings. The hindwing bears dark blue crescents on the upper surface. The tail is notably short compared to other swallowtail . Coloration resembles the black swallowtail (Papilio polyxenes) and short-tailed swallowtail (Papilio brevicauda).

Habitat

Occurs across diverse including montane , high deserts, prairies, and forested regions. Found from sea level in some areas to several thousand feet elevation elsewhere. Tolerates proximity to human settlements as well as extremely isolated, pristine environments.

Distribution

Western North America from extreme southern British Columbia south through Washington, Oregon, and California to northern Baja California, Mexico. Eastward through the Rocky Mountain region: Idaho, western Montana, Wyoming, Nevada, Utah, Colorado, Arizona, and New Mexico. Easternmost records from western Nebraska and western South Dakota.

Seasonality

One per year. On the wing in spring in southern or lower-elevation areas; early summer in northern or higher-elevation areas.

Diet

Larval plants: in the Apiaceae including parsley (Petroselinum crispum), wild carrot (Daucus carota), and other umbelliform plants. nectar sources not specified in available sources.

Host Associations

Petroselinum crispum - larval parsley
Daucus carota - larval wild carrot
Apiaceae - larval umbelliform plants

Life Cycle

One annually. Specific details of , larval, and pupal stages not documented in available sources.

Ecological Role

function as when nectaring. Larvae are herbivores specializing on Apiaceae. Specific roles not documented.

Human Relevance

Larvae feed on cultivated herbs including parsley, potentially causing minor damage to garden plantings. The ' of urban environments allows observation near human settlements.

Similar Taxa

Papilio polyxenesSimilar black coloration, but P. indra has shorter tail and reduced pale markings
Papilio brevicaudaSimilar short tail and dark coloration; geographic separation and specific wing pattern differences aid identification

More Details

Subspecies

Currently recognized include: P. i. calcicola, P. i. fordi, P. i. indra (nominate), P. i. kaibabensis, P. i. martini, P. i. minori, P. i. nevadensis, P. i. panamintensis, P. i. pygmaeus, P. i. pergamus, P. i. phyllisae, and P. i. shastensis. An additional unnamed form has been referred to as P. i. bonnevillensis or the 'Utah-West Desert segregate'.