Papilio aristodemus

Last updated

Contents

Schaus' swallowtail
Schaus Swallowtail Butterfly (14359659735).jpg
Status TNC G3.svg
Vulnerable  (NatureServe) [2]
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Papilionidae
Genus: Papilio
Species:
P. aristodemus
Binomial name
Papilio aristodemus
Esper, 1794
Synonyms
  • Heraclides papilio
  • Heraclides aristodemus ponceanus

Papilio aristodemus, the Schaus' swallowtail or island swallowtail, is a species of American butterfly in the family Papilionidae. It is found in southern Florida in the United States and throughout the West Indies. It is named in honor of William Schaus. [3]

Subspecies

There are five subspecies:

Physiology

Appearance

Schaus' swallowtail has black-brown wings with yellow markings and a broad rusty patch underneath the hindwing. [9] The male's antennae are black with a yellow knob, while the female's antennae are all black. Their forewings have a dull yellow median band from the apex to about midpoint of the inner margin, with a short side branch to costa about one-third the distance from the apex. [10] This species may be confused with Papilio cresphontes the giant swallowtail, but they can be differentiated by the small red patch on the ventral wing (within the small blue band) of the giant swallowtail, which the Schaus' swallowtail doesn't have. [11]

Body size

Schaus' swallowtail has a wingspan of 3+14 by 3+34 inches (82 by 95 mm). [10]

Diet

Torchwood is the primary source of food. Adults have been observed taking nectar from blossoms of guava, cheese shrub, hibiscus and wild coffee. Guava, although an exotic, seemed to be the nectar source preferred by individuals. Schaus' swallowtails will fly some distance from their homes to find blooming guava flowers. [12] Caterpillar host plants are in the family Rutaceae and include hoptree ( Ptelea trifoliata ), citrus species, sea torchwood ( Amyris elemifera ), and lime prickly-ash ( Zanthoxylum fagara ). [13]

Distribution and habitat

In the United States, Schaus's swallowtail is indigenous to the southern tip of Florida. Historically it occurred in tropical hardwood hammock from South Miami to Lower Matecumbe Key, Florida. These butterflies inhabit the hardwood hammocks of the area where they prefer to stay out of direct sunlight. While they inhabit the islands around southern Florida, they are known to live at a relatively high elevation (3.0 to 4.6 meters above sea level), staying away from the tidal waters. [14] Today, it is only found around the Florida Keys, mainly in the islands of Biscayne National Park and Key Largo. [15] It is also found in The Bahamas, Hispaniola (the Dominican Republic and Haiti), the Cayman Islands, Cuba, and possibly Puerto Rico.

Behavior

Schaus' swallowtails seem to be territorial. Males are seen to patrol females and investigate other butterflies entering their area. Male butterflies have been reported to patrol tree tops as high as 10 feet (3.0 m) on hot afternoons. They also linger in open areas for female Schaus' swallowtails. The flight pattern is usually rapid and unpredictable at about 1 to 2 m off the ground. [16] Research also notes that male Schaus' swallowtail butterflies are remarkably adapted to flight within hardwood hammocks and are able to pick their way among branches and around spider webs. Schaus' swallowtails spend much of their time within hammocks, particularly where sunlight penetrates to give a dappling effect. [17] Tropical hardwood hammocks are the environment for these butterflies which are found in the Florida Keys and the northern shores of the Florida Bay. Consequently, Florida is the place where Schaus' swallowtails live. Unfortunately, with hurricanes and the destruction of these hammock habitats, the Schaus has lost much of its population. These tropical hardwood hammocks are essential for the butterfly’s mating and nectaring activities. The butterfly appears to be diurnal with sightings from as early as 7 am to as late as 7 pm.

Flight capability

Schaus' swallowtail is capable of flying as far as 5.8 miles (9.3 km) a day and travel between the Florida Keys. In 1986, a Schaus' swallowtail butterfly was seen crossing about 360 m from Old Rhodes Key to Swan Key. [18] This observation indicates that these butterflies can travel across open water for a considerable distances among the Upper Keys and may be able to travel to and from the mainland.

Flight season

Schaus' swallowtail butterflies have a single annual flight season, primarily in May and June, where adults are active; most sightings have been recorded between mid-April and mid-July. [19] :748 There is only one generation of Schaus' swallowtail butterfly per year and adults are short lived. [20]

Reproduction

Caterpillar Schaus Swallowtail caterpillar at the University of Florida Entomology Department. (14356266651).jpg
Caterpillar

Papilio aristodemus produces only one generation per year. This fact is in large part the reason that the Schaus are at high risk of endangerment. The female swallowtail lays pinhead-sized eggs on wild lime between April and June. Up to ten days later, the larvae emerge and after three to four weeks later they mature into caterpillars. These caterpillars can grow up to three inches (76 mm) in length. After the caterpillars mature they then pupate (a pupa is an insect at the immobile non-feeding stage of development between larva and adult, and pupating is when many internal changes occur in the pupa stage) and remain in their chrysalis until the following spring. [21] Some caterpillars hibernate in their chrysalids, and they can remain dormant for up to two years. Before the females can lay the eggs however, they must mate with a male. The male butterflies patrol in tree canopies looking for any receptive females. [22]

Development

The adult emergence of this species is commonly triggered by rainfall. Their primary flight sequences frequently begin in late April to mid-June; however, some adults fly in late July and early September. [22] They have also, over time, developed the unique ability to stop in mid-air and fly backwards in order to avoid their predators, such as birds, lizards, spiders, etc. [23]

Caterpillar hosts

Caterpillar hosts include plants in the citrus family (Rutaceae), such as citrus species, hop tree (Ptelea trifoliata), Zanthoxylum species, and torchwood (Amyris elemifera). [22]

Conservation

Threats

S. a. ponceanus was listed as endangered by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service in 1984 due to dramatic declines in numbers and contraction of range. Threats include mosquito control and destruction of its tropical hardwood hammock habitat. [24] Aside from this, they are also known to be susceptible to dramatic weather conditions such as hurricanes and droughts. For instance in 1992, Hurricane Andrew devastated the region and nearly wiped out the entire population of Schaus's swallowtail, leaving only 73 documented individual survivors. [25] It was considered "uncommon and local" on Hispaniola in a 2020 survey (with the Dominican Republic being the only place aside from Florida where records are available), and was considered rare on the Cayman Islands during a report there in 1975.

Captive rearing

Captive rearing has proven to be a successful method of maintaining the population of swallowtails. Preemptive planning prior to Hurricane Andrew led to the first mating and pupae production in captivity in 1993. [26] In 2011 only 41 individual butterflies were counted. When the 2012 census resulted in only five, emergency procedures were initialized in June 2012. Up to four of the five, including the presumed only female will be caught and held until they will lay eggs. Those eggs will be removed and bred at the University of Florida McGuire Center for Lepidoptera and Biodiversity. The caught butterflies and those bred from the eggs will be set free inside Biscayne National Park. [27] By June 2013 several larvae and one living female with one egg had been taken in custody. [28] In August the National Park Service announced the spotting of 31 adult butterflies, several female laying eggs and a large number of larvae along with nine adult Papilio andraemon , thought to be extinct in the US, on one of the more remote islands of the national park. [29]

Due to the rapid reproduction cycle of butterflies, the breeding program at the University of Florida resulted with more than a thousand larvae within two years. In June 2014 a first batch of eleven adult females, four males and 308 larvae were released on Elliott Key within Biscayne National Park. [30]

Related Research Articles

<i>Papilio glaucus</i> Species of insect

Papilio glaucus, the eastern tiger swallowtail, is a species of butterfly native to eastern North America. It is one of the most familiar butterflies in the eastern United States, ranging north to southern Ontario, Canada, and is common in many different habitats. It flies from spring until fall, during which it produces two to three broods. Adults feed on the nectar of many species of flowers, mostly from those of the families Apocynaceae, Asteraceae, and Fabaceae. P. glaucus has a wingspan measuring 7.9 to 14 cm. The male is yellow with four black "tiger stripes" on each forewing. Females may be either yellow or black, making them dimorphic. The yellow morph is similar to the male, but with a conspicuous band of blue spots along the hindwing, while the dark morph is almost completely black.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Swallowtail butterfly</span> Butterflies of family Papilionidae

Swallowtail butterflies are large, colorful butterflies in the family Papilionidae, and include over 550 species. Though the majority are tropical, members of the family inhabit every continent except Antarctica. The family includes the largest butterflies in the world, the birdwing butterflies of the genus Ornithoptera.

<i>Papilio polyxenes</i> Species of insect

Papilio polyxenes, the (eastern) black swallowtail, American swallowtail or parsnip swallowtail, is a butterfly found throughout much of North America. An extremely similar-appearing species, Papilio joanae, occurs in the Ozark Mountains region, but it appears to be closely related to Papilio machaon, rather than P. polyxenes. The species is named after the figure in Greek mythology, Polyxena, who was the youngest daughter of King Priam of Troy. Its caterpillar is called the parsley worm because the caterpillar feeds on parsley.

<i>Papilio troilus</i> Species of butterfly

Papilio troilus, the spicebush swallowtail or green-clouded butterfly, is a common black swallowtail butterfly found in North America. It has two subspecies, Papilio troilus troilus and Papilio troilus ilioneus, the latter found mainly in the Florida peninsula. The spicebush swallowtail derives its name from its most common host plant, the spicebush, members of the genus Lindera.

<i>Papilio rutulus</i> Species of butterfly

Papilio rutulus, the western tiger swallowtail, is a swallowtail butterfly belonging to the Papilionidae family. The species was first described by Hippolyte Lucas in 1852.

<i>Papilio multicaudata</i> Species of butterfly

Papilio multicaudata, the two-tailed swallowtail, is a species of the family Papilionidae found in western North America from British Columbia to Central America.

<i>Papilio demoleus</i> Species of butterfly

Papilio demoleus is a common and widespread swallowtail butterfly. The butterfly is also known as the lime butterfly, lemon butterfly, lime swallowtail, and chequered swallowtail. These common names refer to their host plants, which are usually citrus species such as the cultivated lime. Unlike most swallowtail butterflies, it does not have a prominent tail. When the adult stage is taken into consideration, the lime swallowtail is the shortest-lived butterfly, with male adults dying after four days and females after a week. The butterfly is native to Asia and Australia, and can be considered an invasive pest in other parts of the world. The butterfly has spread to Hispaniola island in the Western Hemisphere, and to Mahé, Seychelles.

<i>Pachliopta aristolochiae</i> Species of butterfly

Pachliopta aristolochiae, the common rose, is a swallowtail butterfly belonging to the genus Pachliopta, the roses, or red-bodied swallowtails. It is a common butterfly which is extensively distributed across south and southeast Asia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Key Largo woodrat</span> Subspecies of rodent endemic to Key Largo, Florida, United States

The Key Largo woodrat, a subspecies of the eastern woodrat, is a medium-sized rat found on less than 2,000 acres of the northern area of Key Largo, Florida, in the United States. It is currently on the United States Fish and Wildlife Service list of endangered species. Only 6500 animals were thought to remain in North Key Largo in the late 1980s.

<i>Papilio protenor</i> Species of butterfly

Papilio protenor, the spangle, is a butterfly found in India belonging to the swallowtail family.

<i>Papilio cresphontes</i> Species of butterfly

The giant swallowtail is the largest butterfly in North America. It is abundant through many parts of eastern North America; populations from western North America and down into Panama are now considered to belong to a different species, Papilio rumiko. Though it is often valued in gardens for its striking appearance, its larval stage can be a serious pest to citrus farms, which has earned its caterpillars the names orange dog or orange puppy. The giant swallowtail caterpillars possess remarkable camouflage from predators by closely resembling bird droppings. They use this, along with their osmeteria, to defend against predators such as wasps, flies, and vertebrates.

<i>Papilio demodocus</i> Species of butterfly

Papilio demodocus, the citrus swallowtail or Christmas butterfly, is a swallowtail butterfly which commonly occurs over the entirety of sub-Saharan Africa, including Madagascar, besides the southern Arabian Peninsula. The caterpillars feed on various native plants of especially the family Rutaceae, but have also taken to the leaves of cultivated citrus trees.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Miami blue</span> Subspecies of butterfly

The Miami blue is a small butterfly that is native to coastal areas of southern Florida. It is a subspecies of Thomas's blue. Once common throughout its range, it has become critically endangered, and is considered to be near extinction. Its numbers have recently been increased by a captive breeding program at the Florida Museum of Natural History.

<i>Papilio aegeus</i> Species of butterfly

Papilio aegeus, the orchard swallowtail butterfly or large citrus butterfly is a species of butterfly from the family Papilionidae, that is found in eastern Australia and Papua New Guinea.

<i>Papilio homerus</i> Species of butterfly

Papilio homerus, commonly known as the Homerus swallowtail or Jamaican swallowtail, is the largest butterfly species in the Western Hemisphere. The species is endangered and faces a potentially bleak future. Only two small populations of the Homerus swallowtail remain in a fraction of their original environment. It is endemic to Jamaica where the butterfly simultaneously serves as an icon of national pride and a need for conservation efforts. Over the past half century, the Jamaican swallowtail has been featured on various postal stamps and the Jamaican $1000 bill. In the face of rapid habitat destruction from human disruption and illegal collecting, the Jamaican swallowtail is listed on the Threatened Swallowtail Butterflies of the World by the International Union for Conservation of Nature and is protected under international and national level legislation.

<i>Papilio ulysses</i> Species of butterfly

Papilio ulysses, the Ulysses butterfly, is a large swallowtail butterfly of Australia, Indonesia, Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Islands. Its size varies depending on subspecies, but the wingspan is about 10.5 cm (4.1 in) in Queensland.

<i>Papilio xuthus</i> Species of butterfly

Papilio xuthus, the Asian swallowtail, Chinese yellow swallowtail, Japanese Swallowtail, or Xuthus swallowtail, is a yellow-colored, medium to large sized swallowtail butterfly found in northeast Asia, northern Myanmar, southern China, Taiwan, the Korean Peninsula, Japan, Siberia and the Hawaiian Islands. The butterfly has been observed once in Dunedin, New Zealand in 1996 emerging from a chrysalis in a car yard specializing in Japanese used cars; it is thought the chrysalis arrived through one of the cars. It was also recorded in the state of Arunachal Pradesh, India, in 2014.

<i>Amyris elemifera</i> Species of tree

Amyris elemifera is a species of flowering plant in the citrus family, Rutaceae. Its common names include sea torchwood, smooth torchwood, candlewood, sea amyris, tea, cuabilla, and bois chandelle. It is native to Florida in the United States, the Caribbean, and the Central American countries of Guatemala, Belize, Honduras, and El Salvador. It is also known from northern South America. The species name elemifera is from the Greek, meaning "resin bearing".

<i>Papilio appalachiensis</i> Species of butterfly

Papilio appalachiensis, the Appalachian tiger swallowtail, is a species of swallowtail butterfly found in eastern North America, particularly in the Appalachian Mountains. It is a hybrid of another two Papilio species, Papilio canadensis and Papilio glaucus, with which it shares many characteristics. The butterflies are normally yellow and contain black patterns in their wings. Their wingspans range from 86 to 115 mm. The caterpillars range in color from green and yellow to orange and are ornamented with black specks that give them the appearance of a bird dropping, which is useful for camouflage, or a large eye, a form of mimicry that is also efficient for protection. This species is univoltine. Females lay their eggs in May.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tropical hardwood hammock</span> Ecological region of Florida, US

Tropical hardwood hammocks are closed canopy forests, dominated by a diverse assemblage of evergreen and semi-deciduous tree and shrub species, mostly of West Indian origin. Tropical hardwood hammocks are found in South Florida or the Everglades, with large concentrations on the Miami Rock Ridge, in the Florida Keys, along the northern shores of Florida Bay, and in the Pinecrest region of the Big Cypress Swamp.

References

  1. Puttick, A.; Hall, P.; Shuey, J. (2020). "Papilio aristodemus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2020: e.T62156A110591422. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2020-2.RLTS.T62156A110591422.en . Retrieved 6 December 2022.
  2. "Papilio aristodemus - Esper, 1794". NatureServe Explorer. NatureServe. Retrieved 2022-03-28.
  3. "Schaus' Swallowtail Butterfly Papilio aristodemus ponceanus". The Orlando Sentinel.
  4. Zhang, Jing; Cong, Qian; Shen, Jinhui; Opler, Paul A.; Grishin, Nick V. (2020). "Genomic evidence suggests further change of butterfly names". The Taxonomic Report of the International Lepidoptera Survey. 8. PMC   8794283 . PMID   35098145. 7.
  5. 1 2 Pelham, Jonathan P. (15 February 2023). "A Catalogue of the Butterflies of the United States and Canada". Butterflies of America. Retrieved 18 February 2023.
  6. Miller, Lee D.; Brown, F. Martin (1981). A Catalogue/Checklist of the Butterflies of America North of Mexico. The Lepidopterists' Society. pp. 64–65. ISBN   0-930282-02-7. LCCN   81082185. Memoir No. 2. Retrieved 18 February 2023 via Biodiversity Heritage Library.
  7. Zakharov, Evgueni V.; Caterino, Michael S.; Sperling, Felix A.H. (2004). "Molecular Phylogeny, Historical Biogeography, and Divergence Time Estimates for Swallowtail Butterflies of the Genus Papilio (Lepidoptera: Papilionidae)". Systematic Biology. 53 (2): 193–215. JSTOR   4135408.
  8. NatureServe (3 February 2023). "Heraclides ponceana - Schaus, 1911". NatureServe Network Biodiversity Location Data accessed through NatureServe Explorer. Arlington, Virginia: NatureServe. Retrieved 18 February 2023.
  9. Andrews, Lee. "Schaus Swallowtail Butterfly Partnerships with Private Landowners: A Vital Piece of the Conservation Puzzle" (PDF).{{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  10. 1 2 Emmel, T.I. "Schaus Swallowtail Butterfly" (PDF).{{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  11. "Giant Swallowtail, Orangedog, Papilio cresphontes Cramer (Insecta: Lepidoptera: Papilionidae)1 (PDF Download Available)". ResearchGate. Retrieved 2017-11-14.
  12. Rutkowski, Frank (1971). "Observations on Papilo aristodemus ponceanus (Papilionidae)" (PDF). Journal of the Lepidopterists' Society. 25 (2): 126–136. Retrieved 18 February 2023 via Yale Peabody Museum.
  13. "Schaus' Swallowtail Papilio aristodemus Esper, 1794". Butterflies and Moths of North America. Retrieved 2009-11-27.
  14. "Schaus Swallowtail Butterfly" (PDF). xerces.org. Retrieved 23 October 2014.
  15. Daniels, Jaret C. "Schaus Swallowtail" (PDF). edis.ifas.ufl.edu. University of Florida. Retrieved 23 October 2014.
  16. Emmel, T.C (1985). "Status survey of the Schaus swallowtail in Florida in 1984" (PDF) (Technical report No. 145, Florida Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit, University of Florida).{{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  17. Emmel, T.C (1985). "Status survey of the Schaus swallowtail in Florida in 1984" (PDF) (Technical report No. 145, Florida Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit, University of Florida).{{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  18. Emmel, T.C. "Status survey and habitat requirements of Florida's endemic Schaus swallowtail butterfly" (PDF). Florida Game and Fresh Water Fish Commission, Final Report GFC-84-028.
  19. Southeast Region, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (1999). "Schaus Swallowtail Butterfly" (PDF). South Florida Multispecies Recovery Plan (PDF). Atlanta, Georgia: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. pp. 743–765. Retrieved 18 February 2023.
  20. Emmel, T.C (1985). Status survey of the Schaus swallowtail in Florida in 1984 (Report). Gainesville: Florida Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit, University of Florida. Technical report No. 145.
  21. "Life cycle of rare Schaus' Swallowtail Butterflies". CBS News. Retrieved 23 October 2014.
  22. 1 2 3 "Attributes of Papilio aristodemus". butterfliesandmoths.org. Retrieved 23 October 2014.
  23. "Schaus Swallowtail Butterfly" (PDF). fws.gov. Retrieved 23 October 2014.
  24. "Schaus' Swallowtail Butterfly" (PDF). Species Conservation Guidelines for South Florida. South Florida Ecological Services Office. 2004-02-19. Retrieved 2009-11-27.
  25. "Schaus' swallowtail butterfly" (PDF). myfwc.com. Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. Retrieved 23 October 2014.
  26. "Schaus Swallowtail Butterfly". butterflyrecovery.org. Butterfly Conservation Initiative. Retrieved 23 October 2014.
  27. National Park Service: Emergency action underway to protect endangered Schaus swallowtail butterfly, press release, June 13, 2012
  28. National Park Service: Biscayne National Park − Capture of Imperiled Butterfly in Biscayne National Park Raises Hope for a Species, June 3, 2013
  29. Report of the Spotting on the National Parks facebook timeline, August 23, 2013
  30. National Park Service: Endangered Schaus’ Swallowtail Butterfly Release in Biscayne National Park, June 5, 2014