Piperaceae
Guides
Papilio thoas
Thoas swallowtail, King swallowtail
Papilio thoas is a large swallowtail butterfly distributed across the Neotropics from Mexico through Central America to South America. The species exhibits typical papilionid characteristics including prominent tail-like extensions on the hindwings. Larvae have been reared on Piper aduncum in laboratory conditions, though natural host plant associations in the wild require further confirmation. The species is subject to parasitism by sarcophagid flies during the pupal stage.