Rutaceae-specialist
Guides
Papilio aristodemus
Schaus' swallowtail, island swallowtail
Papilio aristodemus, commonly known as Schaus' swallowtail or island swallowtail, is a butterfly in the family Papilionidae endemic to southern Florida, the West Indies, and the Bahamas. It is one of North America's most endangered butterflies, with the Florida subspecies (P. a. ponceana, now Heraclides ponceana) listed as endangered since 1984. The species produces a single generation annually with adults active primarily in May and June. Habitat loss from urban development, hurricanes, and mosquito control spraying has caused dramatic population declines, including near-extinction from Hurricane Andrew in 1992.