Papilio ornythion

Boisduval, 1836

ornythion swallowtail

Papilio ornythion is a in the Papilioninae, native to Mexico and Guatemala with occasional vagrancy into the southern United States. The exhibits with two female forms—one matching the male and a distinctive dark form. fly from April to September with two per year. Larvae feed on Citrus leaves while adults nectar on flowers.

Papilio ornythion ornythion by Rogelio Antonio Reyna Hernández. Used under a CC BY-SA 4.0 license.Macrolepidoptera15seit 0023 by Adalbert Seitz . Used under a Public domain license.Wilhelma Königs-Schwalbenschwanz Papilio thoas 0534 by NobbiP. Used under a CC BY-SA 3.0 license.

Pronunciation

How to pronounce Papilio ornythion: /pəˈpɪlioʊ ɔːrˈnɪθiˌɒn/

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Identification

Distinguished from similar swallowtails by the specific pattern of pale yellow banding crossed by black on forewings, the iridescent blue lunule above the orange lunule at the anal angle of hindwings, and the continuous pale yellow stripe between forewings and hindwings. Female dark form resembles other dark swallowtails but shows reduced or absent bands and distinctive patterning. Larger than many temperate Papilio ; vagrant individuals in Texas and New Mexico may be confused with P. thoas group members but differ in precise banding and lunule configuration.

Images

Appearance

Wingspan 83–115 mm. surface of wings black with pale yellow band crossed by black ; forewings bear pale yellow spots above the and in submarginal area. Hindwings with pale yellow stripe continuous with forewing band, series of submarginal pale yellow macules, orange lunule surmounted by iridescent blue lunule at anal angle, and extended black tails. surface predominantly pale yellow; forewings similarly patterned but black areas striped with yellow; hindwings pale yellow edged with black with row of orange lunules edged with black medially. Body pale yellow and black above. Female dark form lacks band on dorsal forewings and hindwings; ventral surface predominantly black with submarginal pale yellow macules on hindwings in addition to median orange lunules; body darker.

Distribution

Mexico; Guatemala. Vagrant records: central and southern Texas, New Mexico, southern Arizona, and Kansas (rare).

Seasonality

on wing April to September. Two per year.

Diet

Larvae feed on leaves of Citrus trees. feed on flower nectar.

Host Associations

  • Citrus - larval food plantlarvae feed on leaves

Life Cycle

Two per year. deposited on plants; larvae feed on leaves; presumably on host plant or nearby vegetation (specific details not documented).

Human Relevance

Occasional pest of Citrus due to larval feeding on leaves. Subject of interest to lepidopterists due to vagrancy patterns into the United States.

Similar Taxa

  • Papilio thoasMember of same group (P. thoas group); similar size and general pattern but differs in specific banding details and geographic range (P. thoas more widespread in southern United States and Central America)
  • Papilio cresphontesSimilar large size and yellow/black patterning; P. ornythion distinguished by continuous pale yellow stripe between forewings and hindwings and specific lunule configuration at anal angle

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Sources and further reading