Protographium leosthenes

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Protographium leosthenes
Fourbarredswordtail.jpg
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Papilionidae
Genus: Protographium
Species:
P. leosthenes
Binomial name
Protographium leosthenes
Doubleday, 1846
Protographium leosthenes range.png
Range of four-barred swordtail
  P. l. leosthenes;   P. l. geimbia
Synonyms
  • Papilio leosthenesDoubleday, 1846

Protographium leosthenes, the four-barred swordtail, is a medium-sized butterfly of the family Papilionidae found in Australia. It is similar to the five-barred (or chain) swordtail ( Graphium aristeus ) found in both Australia and India. [1]

Contents

Appearance

Adults are brown and white, with four brown parallel bars running down the leading edge of the forewing. The hindwings have a pointed tail. Their wingspan is approximately 49 mm for males and 53 mm for females. [2] [3] The four-barred swordtail can be distinguished from the five-barred swordtail by the number of bars, and pale orange and blue spots on the upperside of the hindwing. In addition, the four-barred swordtail has pale orange markings on the underside of its hindwing, rather than red markings. [3]

Biology

The eggs are cream coloured and laid singly on young leaves of the larval plant. [4] The larvae feed on Melodorum leichhardtii , Melodorum rupestre , Polyalthia nitidissima and occasionally Desmos wardianus . [3] [4] Early instars are pale green, with black spots and a black thorax and tail. The caterpillar later becomes green with brown or yellow spots, and reaches a length of up to 3.5 centimetres. [4] The pupa is about 2 centimetres in length, and green with pink markings. [4] There is usually one generation per year, with adult emergence varying with the season. [3]

The preferred habitat is monsoon forest and subtropical rainforest, where the larval plants are found. [3] Adults fly near the ground (within about 2 metres) with their wings spread. [3] The males frequently hilltop.

Subspecies

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References

  1. "2. Protographium leosthenes (Doubleday)". Australian Insect Common Names. Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO, Australia). 19 September 2004. Retrieved 20 September 2008.
  2. "Four-barred Swordtail (Protographium leosthenes)". Oz Animals. Retrieved 22 June 2016.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Braby, Michael (2004). The Complete Field Guide to Butterflies of Australia . Collingwood, Victoria: CSIRO Publishing. pp.  114. ISBN   9780643090279.
  4. 1 2 3 4 "Protographium leosthenes". Australian Caterpillars and their Butterflies and Moths. 2015. Archived from the original on 17 May 2016. Retrieved 22 June 2016.

Further reading