Graphium antheus

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Large striped swordtail
Large striped swordtail butterfly (Graphium antheus).jpg
At Phinda Private Game Reserve, KwaZulu Natal, South Africa
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Papilionidae
Genus: Graphium
Species:
G. antheus
Binomial name
Graphium antheus
(Cramer, [1779]) [1] [2]
Synonyms
  • Papilio antheus(Cramer, 1849)
  • Papilio nyassaeButler, 1877
  • Papilio lurlinusButler, 1883
  • Papilio utubaHampson, 1891
  • Papilio antharisGodart, 1819
  • Papilio antheus evombaroidesEimer, 1889
  • Papilio mercutiusGrose-Smith & Kirby, 1894
  • Papilio hollandiGrose-Smith & Kirby, 1894
  • Papilio antheus ab. scheffleriStrand, 1909
  • Papilio antheuslatepictulusStrand, 1914
  • Papilio antheus ab. combinataStrand, 1914
  • Papilio antheus f. micrevombaroidesStrand, 1914
  • Papilio antheus ab. misanusStrand, 1914
  • Papilio antheus ab. hoesemanniStrand, 1914
  • Papilio antheus ab. rubrimaculaStrand, 1914
  • Papilio antheus ab. commaStrand, 1914
  • Papilio (Cosmodesmus) antheus antheus ab. mathieuiDufrane, 1946
  • Papilio (Cosmodesmus) antheus antheus ab. paradoxaDufrane, 1946
  • Papilio antheus f. atrantheusBasquin & Turlin, 1986

Graphium antheus, the large or larger striped swordtail, is a species of butterfly in the family Papilionidae (swallowtails), found in tropical and sub-Saharan Africa. [3]

Contents

Description

The wingspan is 65–70 mm in males and 70–75 mm in females.The transverse bars in the cell of the forewing all separated; the apical spot in the cell of the hindwing above completely separated from the median band of the cell by the black ground-colour; the middle cell of the hindwing beneath with a deep black and red spot. The larva is brown to brown-green with a yellow belt on the third segment and lives on Artabotrys, an Anonacea. Sierra Leone to Angola. — In ab.evombaroides Eim. the apical spot of the cell of the hindwing above is more or less united with the median band; otherwise not different from antheus. West Africa. — In ab. utuba Hamps. the fourth and fifth transverse bands in the cell of the forewing are united posteriorly, forming a U-shaped spot; otherwise agreeing with nyassae. Delagoa and British East Africa. — nyassae Btlr. has the middle cell of the hindwing beneath without the black and red spot; the transverse bars in the coll of the fore wing separated. Natal to British East Africa. — ab. (var. ?) lurlinus Btlr. is somewhat larger than antheus and has the green markings of the upperside more extended, especially the transverse bars in the cell of the fore wing and the submarginal spots of both wings are nearly twice as large as in the latter. Nyassaland and in the neighbourhood of Victoria Nyanza. mercutius Sm. & Kirby. Markings of the upper surface yellowish white; second and third transverse bands and again fourth and fifth transverse bands united to form a large, almost quadrate spot; the hindwing on both surfaces with a red spot in 1 c and 2 and beneath also with a red dot in cellule 7; the cell of the hinclwing on the other hand without red or black spot. Only one specimen known. Is perhaps only an aberration of the female of nyassae. Delagoa Bay. [4]

Biology

The flight period is year-round, peaking from November to December. [5]

The larva feeds on Uvaria caffra , Artabotrys monteiroae , Annona reticulata , Annona senegalensis , Artabotrys brachypetalus , Cleistochlamys kirkii , Hexalobus monopetalus , Landolphia ugandensis , Monanthotaxis caffra , Monodora junodi , and Uvaria kirkii . [3] [5]

Taxonomy

Graphium antheus is the nominal member of the antheus - clade (antheus, Graphium evombar , Graphium kirbyi , Graphium junodi , Graphium polistratus , Graphium colonna , Graphium illyris , Graphium gudenusi ).

Aurivillius in Seitz places evombar and antheus in the policenes Group Subgroup 1 circumscribed-Hindwing with a long, narrow tail of uniform width at vein 4. Frons black with white lateral margins. Wings above with green or greenish white markings. Cell of the forewing with 5 — 6 transverse bands or spots.Both wings with submarginal spots. Hindwing beneath with a so-called ornamental band, formed of red spots. Besides the markings already mentioned the forewing has a spot at the base of cellules 1 a and 1 b, an oblique transverse streak in the basal part of these cellules and 8 discal spots, one each in cellules 1 a — 6 and 8; the hindwing has a narrow transverse band at the base, a narrow median band which consists only of three spots (in the cell and in cellules 2 and 7) and usually also 7 discal spots in cellules 1 c -7, of which, however, that in 1 c is red. The larva has four pairs of spines, one pair each on the 1., 2., 3. and penultimate segments. The pupa is very angularly widened at the beginning of the abdomen and has a long hump on the mesothorax. Subgroup 1.Hindwing in the apex of the cell with an additional light spot which is sometimes more or less united with the spot of the median band. The discal spot in cellule 3 of the hindwing is elongated and nearly or quite reaches the base of the cellule. Wings beneath spotted with red at the extreme basal margin. Cell of the forewing behind the fifth transverse streak unicolorous, without spots. [6]

Related Research Articles

<i>Graphium aurivilliusi</i> Species of butterfly

Graphium aurivilliusi is a species of butterfly in the family Papilionidae (swallowtails). It is endemic to the Democratic Republic of the Congo. It is only known from the type series of males.The type specimens is labelled “Congo” only. It may be a form of Graphium agamedes.

<i>Graphium angolanus</i> Species of butterfly

Graphium angolanus, the Angola white lady, is a species of butterfly in the family Papilionidae (swallowtails). It is found in Sub-Saharan Africa.

<i>Graphium morania</i> Species of butterfly

Graphium morania, the white lady or small white-lady swordtail, is a species of butterfly in the family Papilionidae (swallowtails). It is found in southern Africa.

<i>Graphium leonidas</i> Species of butterfly

Graphium leonidas, the veined swordtail, veined swallowtail or common graphium, is a species of butterfly in the family Papilionidae, found in Sub-Saharan Africa.

<i>Graphium policenes</i> Species of butterfly

Graphium policenes, the common swordtail or small striped swordtail, is a species of butterfly in the family Papilionidae (swallowtails). It is found in tropical Africa.

<i>Graphium porthaon</i> Species of butterfly

Graphium porthaon, the coastal swordtail, cream-striped swordtail or dark swordtail, is a species of butterfly in the family Papilionidae, found in tropical western Africa.

<i>Graphium colonna</i> Species of butterfly

Graphium colonna, the black swordtail or mamba swordtail, is a species of butterfly in the family Papilionidae (swallowtails). It is found in Africa.

<i>Graphium illyris</i> Species of butterfly

Graphium illyris, the cream-banded swordtail, is a forest butterfly of the swallowtail family (Papilionidae). It is native to the Afrotropical realm.

<i>Graphium evombar</i> Species of butterfly

Graphium evombar is a butterfly in the family Papilionidae. It is found on Madagascar and the Comoros. The habitat consists of forests.

<i>Graphium policenoides</i> Species of butterfly

Graphium policenoides is a butterfly in the family Papilionidae (swallowtails). It is found in Cameroon, Gabon, the Republic of the Congo and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Its habitat consists of wet forests in good condition. It is very similar to Graphium policenes and Graphium liponesco

<i>Graphium kirbyi</i> Species of butterfly

Graphium kirbyi, the Kirby's swordtail, is a butterfly in the family Papilionidae. It is found along the coast of Kenya and from the coast of Tanzania, inland to Morogoro. The habitat consists of coastal forests.

<i>Graphium junodi</i> Species of butterfly

Graphium junodi, the Junod's swordtail, is a butterfly in the family Papilionidae. It is found in Angola, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Uganda, Tanzania, Mozambique and along the eastern border of Zimbabwe. The habitat consists of warm forests.

<i>Graphium polistratus</i> Species of butterfly

Graphium polistratus, the dancing swordtail, is a butterfly in the family Papilionidae (swallowtails). It is found in Nigeria, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the coast of Kenya, Tanzania, northern Malawi and Mozambique. Its habitat consists of warm and coastal forests.

<i>Graphium tynderaeus</i> Species of butterfly

Graphium tynderaeus, the electric green swordtail, is a butterfly in the family Papilionidae. It is found in Guinea, Sierra Leone, Liberia, Ivory Coast, Ghana, Nigeria, Cameroon, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, the Republic of the Congo, Angola, the Central African Republic, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and western Tanzania.

<i>Graphium philonoe</i> Species of butterfly

Graphium philonoe, the eastern white-lady swordtail, is a butterfly in the family Papilionidae. It is found in Sudan, Ethiopia, Uganda, Kenya, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Tanzania, Malawi and Mozambique. Its habitat consists of coastal and riparian forests.

<i>Graphium agamedes</i> Species of butterfly

Graphium agamedes, the Westwood's white lady, is a butterfly in the family Papilionidae (swallowtails). It is found in Ivory Coast, Ghana, Togo, Benin, Nigeria, Cameroon, the Central African Republic and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The habitat consists of the forest/savanna transition zone.

<i>Graphium almansor</i> Species of butterfly

Graphium almansor, the Almansor white-lady swordtail or Honrath's white lady, is a butterfly in the family Papilionidae (swallowtails). It is found in Guinea, Ghana, Togo, Nigeria, Cameroon, the Republic of the Congo, Angola, the Central African Republic, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Sudan, Ethiopia, Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, Zambia and possibly Rwanda and Burundi.

<i>Graphium fulleri</i> Species of butterfly

Graphium fulleri is a butterfly in the family Papilionidae (swallowtails). It is found in Cameroon, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, the Republic of the Congo, Angola, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Chad.

Graphium ucalegonides is a butterfly in the family Papilionidae (swallowtails). It is found in Cameroon, the Republic of the Congo, northern Angola, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Chad.

<i>Graphium poggianus</i> Species of butterfly

Graphium poggianus is a butterfly in the family Papilionidae. It is found in northern Angola, the southern part of the Democratic Republic of the Congo and north-western Zambia.

References

  1. Cramer, P. [1779-1780]. De Uitlandsche Kapellen voorkomende in de drie waereld-deelen Asia, Africa en America. Amsteldam & Utrecht. 3: 176 pp.
  2. "Afrotropical Butterflies: File C – Papilionidae - Tribe Leptocercini". Archived from the original on October 16, 2017. DOC file download
  3. 1 2 Graphium, funet.fi
  4. Aurivillius, [P.O.]C. 1908-1924. In: Seitz, A. Die Großschmetterlinge der Erde Band 13: Abt. 2, Die exotischen Großschmetterlinge, Die afrikanischen Tagfalter, 1925, 613 Seiten, 80 Tafeln (The Macrolepidoptera of the World 13).Alfred Kernen Verlag, Stuttgart.PD-icon.svg This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain .
  5. 1 2 Woodhall, Steve (2005). Field Guide to Butterflies of South Africa. Cape Town, South Africa: Struik. ISBN   978-1-86872-724-7.
  6. Aurivillius, [P.O.]C. 1908-1924. In: Seitz, A. Die Großschmetterlinge der Erde Band 13: Abt. 2, Die exotischen Großschmetterlinge, Die afrikanischen Tagfalter, 1925, 613 Seiten, 80 Tafeln (The Macrolepidoptera of the World 13).Alfred Kernen Verlag, Stuttgart.PD-icon.svg This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain .