genus
Genus (; : genera ) is a taxonomic rank above species and below family (taxonomy), family as used in the biological classification of extant taxon, living and fossil organisms as well as Virus classification#ICTV classification, viruses. In bino ...
in the swallowtail butterfly
family
Family (from ) is a Social group, group of people related either by consanguinity (by recognized birth) or Affinity (law), affinity (by marriage or other relationship). It forms the basis for social order. Ideally, families offer predictabili ...
,
Papilionidae
Swallowtail butterflies are large, colorful Butterfly, 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 includ ...
, as well as the only representative of the
tribe
The term tribe is used in many different contexts to refer to a category of human social group. The predominant worldwide use of the term in English is in the discipline of anthropology. The definition is contested, in part due to conflict ...
Papilionini. The word ''papilio'' is
Latin
Latin ( or ) is a classical language belonging to the Italic languages, Italic branch of the Indo-European languages. Latin was originally spoken by the Latins (Italic tribe), Latins in Latium (now known as Lazio), the lower Tiber area aroun ...
for
butterfly
Butterflies are winged insects from the lepidopteran superfamily Papilionoidea, characterized by large, often brightly coloured wings that often fold together when at rest, and a conspicuous, fluttering flight. The oldest butterfly fossi ...
.
It includes the common yellow swallowtail (''
Papilio machaon
''Papilio machaon'', the Old World swallowtail, is a butterfly of the family Papilionidae. The butterfly is also known as the common yellow swallowtail or simply the swallowtail (a common name applied to all members of the family, but this speci ...
''), which is widespread in the Northern Hemisphere and the
type species
In International_Code_of_Zoological_Nomenclature, zoological nomenclature, a type species (''species typica'') is the species name with which the name of a genus or subgenus is considered to be permanently taxonomically associated, i.e., the spe ...
of the genus, as well as a number of other well-known North American
species
A species () is often defined as the largest group of organisms in which any two individuals of the appropriate sexes or mating types can produce fertile offspring, typically by sexual reproduction. It is the basic unit of Taxonomy (biology), ...
such as the western tiger swallowtail (''
Papilio rutulus
''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.
Like the other tiger swallowtails, the western tiger swallow ...
''). Familiar species elsewhere in the world include the Mormons (''
Papilio polytes
''Papilio polytes'', the common Mormon, is a common species of swallowtail butterfly, swallowtail butterfly widely distributed across Asia.
This butterfly is known for the mimicry displayed by the numerous forms of its females which mimic inedi ...
Australia
Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country comprising mainland Australia, the mainland of the Australia (continent), Australian continent, the island of Tasmania and list of islands of Australia, numerous smaller isl ...
(''
Papilio aegeus
''Papilio aegeus'', the orchard swallowtail butterfly or large citrus butterfly is a species of butterfly from the family (biology), family Papilionidae, that is found in eastern Australia and Papua New Guinea.
The larvae of this species are som ...
'', '' Papilio ulysses'', respectively) and the citrus swallowtail of Africa (''
Papilio demodocus
''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 ...
'').
Older classifications of the swallowtails tended to use many rather small genera. More recent classifications have been more conservative, and as a result a number of former genera are now absorbed within ''Papilio'', such as ''Achillides'', ''Eleppone'', ''
Druryia
''Druryia'' is a subgenus within the genus ''Papilio'' containing 36 species:Häuser, C.L., de Jong, R., Lamas, G., Robbins, R.K., Smith, C. & Vane-Wright, R.I. (2005)Papilionidae – revised GloBIS/GART species checklist (2nd draft) Entomologi ...
'', ''Heraclides'' (giant swallowtails), ''Menelaides'', ''Princeps'', ''Pterourus'' (tiger swallowtails), and ''Sinoprinceps''. The
genus
Genus (; : genera ) is a taxonomic rank above species and below family (taxonomy), family as used in the biological classification of extant taxon, living and fossil organisms as well as Virus classification#ICTV classification, viruses. In bino ...
as recognized by modern systems has about 200 members. The genus ''Chilasa'' is regarded as a subgenus of ''Papilio'' by some workers, as are the baggy-tailed swallowtails (''Agehana''), although the latter
taxon
In biology, a taxon (back-formation from ''taxonomy''; : taxa) is a group of one or more populations of an organism or organisms seen by taxonomists to form a unit. Although neither is required, a taxon is usually known by a particular name and ...
is usually considered a subgenus of ''Chilasa''.
Many of the
larva
A larva (; : larvae ) is a distinct juvenile form many animals undergo before metamorphosis into their next life stage. Animals with indirect development such as insects, some arachnids, amphibians, or cnidarians typically have a larval phase ...
e resemble bird droppings during a development stage. Adults are edible to birds and some species are mimics.''The Butterflies of North America'', James A. Scott, , 1986
Ecology
In their larval form, members of ''Papilio'' typically feed upon plants of
Rutaceae
The Rutaceae () is a family (biology), family, commonly known as the rueRUTACEAE in Bo ...
including common ornamental and agriculturally important species such as ''
Citrus
''Citrus'' is a genus of flowering trees and shrubs in the family Rutaceae. Plants in the genus produce citrus fruits, including important crops such as oranges, mandarins, lemons, grapefruits, pomelos, and limes.
''Citrus'' is nativ ...
'' species, ''
Murraya
''Murraya'' () is a genus of flowering plants in the citrus family, Rutaceae. It is distributed in Asia, Australia, and the Pacific Islands.Choisya'' species and '' Calodendrum'' species. Caterpillars sequester
terpenoid
The terpenoids, also known as isoprenoids, are a class of naturally occurring organic compound, organic chemicals derived from the 5-carbon compound isoprene and its derivatives called terpenes, diterpenes, etc. While sometimes used interchangeabl ...
s from their diet to produce a foul smelling oil used in defence.
Papilio machaon
''Papilio machaon'', the Old World swallowtail, is a butterfly of the family Papilionidae. The butterfly is also known as the common yellow swallowtail or simply the swallowtail (a common name applied to all members of the family, but this speci ...
'' Linnaeus, 1758 – Old World swallowtail, common yellow swallowtail, or artemisia swallowtail
::* '' Papilio polyxenes'' Fabricius, 1775 – black swallowtail, eastern black swallowtail, American swallowtail, or parsnip swallowtail
::* '' Papilio saharae'' Oberthür, 1879 – Sahara swallowtail
::* '' Papilio zelicaon'' Lucas, 1852 – anise swallowtail or western swallowtail
subgenus: ''Princeps'' Hübner, 807/small>
:species group: ''antimachus''
::* '' Papilio antimachus'' Drury, 1782 – Antimachus swallowtail or giant African swallowtail
:species group: ''zalmoxis''
::* '' Papilio zalmoxis'' Hewitson, 1864 – giant blue swallowtail
:species group: ''nireus''
::* '' Papilio aristophontes'' Oberthür, 1897
::* '' Papilio charopus'' Westwood, 1843 – tailed green-banded swallowtail
::* '' Papilio chrapkowskii'' Suffert, 1904 – broad green-banded swallowtail or Chrapkowski's green-banded swallowtail
::* ''
Papilio chrapkowskoides
''Papilio chrapkowskoides'', the broadly green-banded swallowtail, is a species of swallowtail butterfly from the genus ''Papilio'' that is found in the Republic of the Congo, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, Tanzania, Guinea, Sierra Leone, Liberia, Ivo ...
Papilio cyproeofila
''Papilio cyproeofila'', the common white-banded swallowtail, is a species of swallowtail butterfly from the genus ''Papilio'' that is found in Guinea, Sierra Leone, Liberia, Ivory Coast, Ghana, Togo and Nigeria.
The larvae feed on ''Piper (plan ...
Papilio demodocus
''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 ...
Papilio echerioides
''Papilio echerioides'', the white-banded swallowtail, is a butterfly of the family Papilionidae. It is found in Sub-Saharan Africa.
The wingspan is 65–75 mm. It has two flight periods, first from January to March and second from Septemb ...
incertae sedis
or is a term used for a taxonomy (biology), taxonomic group where its broader relationships are unknown or undefined. Alternatively, such groups are frequently referred to as "enigmatic taxa". In the system of open nomenclature, uncertainty ...
Papilio gigon
''Papilio gigon'' is a butterfly of the family Papilionidae. It is confined to islands in eastern Indonesia (Sulawesi, Sula and Talaud), but common where found
The wingspan is 120–130 mm.Sexes similar, the female paler than the male ...
Papilio aegeus
''Papilio aegeus'', the orchard swallowtail butterfly or large citrus butterfly is a species of butterfly from the family (biology), family Papilionidae, that is found in eastern Australia and Papua New Guinea.
The larvae of this species are som ...
Papilio polytes
''Papilio polytes'', the common Mormon, is a common species of swallowtail butterfly, swallowtail butterfly widely distributed across Asia.
This butterfly is known for the mimicry displayed by the numerous forms of its females which mimic inedi ...
879
__NOTOC__
Year 879 ( DCCCLXXIX) was a common year starting on Thursday of the Julian calendar.
Events
By place
Europe
* April 10 – King Louis the Stammerer dies at Compiègne, after a reign of 18 months. He is succeeded by hi ...
887
__NOTOC__
Year 887 ( DCCCLXXXVII) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Julian calendar.
Events
By place
Europe
* November 17 – East Frankish magnates revolt against the inept emperor Charles III (the Fat) in an assembly ...
Papilio nephelus
''Papilio nephelus'' is a species of swallowtail butterfly belonging to the family Papilionidae. Subspecies include ''P. n. chaon'', the yellow Helen, and ''P. n. sunatus'', the black and white Helen.
Description
''Papilio nephelus'' has a win ...
Papilio maraho
''Papilio maraho'' is a species of butterfly in the family Papilionidae. It is endemic
Endemism is the state of a species being found only in a single defined geographic location, such as an island, state, nation, country or other defined ...
881
__NOTOC__
Year 881 ( DCCCLXXXI) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Julian calendar.
Events
By place Europe
* February 12 – King Charles the Fat, the third son of the late Louis the German, is crowned as Holy Roman Emper ...
Papilio elephenor
''Papilio elephenor'', the yellow-crested spangle, is a species of swallowtail butterfly found in Northeast India. Following decades without confirmed sightings, it was rediscovered in 2009 in Assam.
Description
Male upperside dull black. Forewi ...
Papilio paris
''Papilio paris'', the Paris peacock swallowtail, is a species of swallowtail butterfly found in the Indian subcontinent and southeast Asia.
Subspecies
*''P. p. arjuna'' Horsfield, 1828 (central Java)
*''P. p. battacorum'' Rothschild, 1908 (nort ...
827
__FORCETOC__
Year 827 ( DCCCXXVII) was a common year starting on Tuesday of the Julian calendar.
Events
By place Byzantine Empire
* June 14 – Euphemius, exiled Byzantine admiral, asks for the help of North African Arabs, to ret ...
::* ''
Papilio pelaus
''Papilio pelaus'', the prickly ash swallowtail, is a species of Neotropical realm, Neotropical swallowtail butterfly from the genus ''Papilio'' that is found in Jamaica, Hispaniola, Cuba and Puerto Rico.
Description
There are few differences b ...
852
__NOTOC__
Year 852 (Roman numerals, DCCCLII) was a leap year starting on Friday of the Julian calendar.
Events
By place
Europe
* March 4 – Trpimir I of Croatia, Trpimir I, duke (''Knyaz, knez'') of Duchy of Croatia, Croatia, an ...
/small> – Poey's black swallowtail
::* ''
Papilio cresphontes
The eastern giant swallowtail (''Papilio cresphontes'') 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 (as of 2014) cons ...
Papilio troilus
''Papilio troilus'', the spicebush swallowtail or green-clouded butterfly, is a common black swallowtail butterfly found in North America."Simply Butterflies," Accessed March 17, 2011, http://www.simplybutterflies.com/Backyard_Butterflies.html ...
Papilio appalachiensis
''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 canaden ...
Papilio canadensis
''Papilio canadensis'', the Canadian tiger swallowtail, is a species of butterfly in the family Papilionidae. It was once classified as a subspecies of ''Papilio glaucus''.
Description
Adult
The wingspan of this species is 67 to 80 mm. It ...
Papilio glaucus
''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 ma ...
Papilio rutulus
''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.
Like the other tiger swallowtails, the western tiger swallow ...
Papilio xuthus
''Papilio xuthus'', the Asian swallowtail, Chinese yellow swallowtail, Japanese Swallowtail, Korean Swallowtail or Xuthus swallowtail, is a yellow-colored, medium to large sized swallowtail butterfly found in northeast Asia, northern Myanmar, ...
'' Linnaeus, 1767 – Asian, Xuthus, or Chinese yellow swallowtail