Protographium leosthenes

Protographium leosthenes
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Papilionidae
Genus: Protographium
Munroe, 1961
Species: P. leosthenes
Binomial name
Protographium leosthenes
Doubleday, 1846
Range of four-barred swordtail
  P. l. leosthenes;   P. l. geimbia
Synonyms
  • Papilio leosthenes Doubleday, 1846
  • Neographium

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]

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

References

  1. "2. Protographium leosthenes (Doubleday)". Australian Insect Common Names. Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO, Australia). 19 September 2004. Retrieved 2008-09-20.
  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. p. 114. ISBN 9780643090279.
  4. 1 2 3 4 "Protographium leosthenes". Australian Caterpillars and their Butterflies and Moths. 2015. Retrieved 22 June 2016.
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Further reading


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