Papilio zelicaon nitra

Papilio zelicaon nitra is a of the anise swallowtail, a western North American in the Papilionidae. The parent Papilio zelicaon is well-documented as having larvae that resemble bird droppings, providing camouflage from . When disturbed, the caterpillar extends its osmeterium, a forked that releases a strong odor as a defensive mechanism. This subspecies is part of a group showing complex adaptations including non- strategies in some .

Macrolepidoptera15seit 0025 by Adalbert Seitz
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Pronunciation

How to pronounce Papilio zelicaon nitra: /pəˈpɪlioʊ zɛˈlɪkeɪˌɒn ˈnaɪtrə/

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Life Cycle

Larvae of Papilio zelicaon have been observed to resemble bird droppings, a form of camouflage. When disturbed, the caterpillar extends its osmeterium—forked that emit a strong odor as a defensive response. Research on the parent indicates some California exhibit non- , with flying and laying late into the season producing non-diapause pupae.

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Research context

Papilio zelicaon has been studied in long-term research on and climate change by UC Davis professor Art Shapiro since 1972. A 1984 publication by Shapiro documented non- in California of both Pieris rapae and Papilio zelicaon, describing Type III diapause-induction curves as adaptive mechanisms.

Parent species biology

The Papilio zelicaon (anise swallowtail) has been documented feeding on fennel as a plant. have been photographed nectaring on anise. The species is part of research programs tracking trends and phenological shifts across central California.