''Papilio mechowi'' is a

butterfly Butterflies are insects in the macrolepidopteran clade Rhopalocera from the order Lepidoptera, which also includes moths. Adult butterflies have large, often brightly coloured wings, and conspicuous, fluttering flight. The group comprise ...

of the 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 larg ...

found in

Africa Africa is the world's second-largest and second-most populous continent, after Asia in both cases. At about 30.3 million km2 (11.7 million square miles) including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of Earth's total surface area ...

Subspecies

*''Papilio mechowi mechowi'' (Cameroon, Congo, Central African Republic, southern Sudan, Uganda, Republic of the Congo, Angola) *''Papilio mechowi whitnalli'' Neave, 1904 (central and eastern Uganda)

Taxonomy

''Papilio mechowi'' is very similar to '' Papilio gallienus'' but males lack the distinct androconial patch of ''gallienus'' and the discal spots of the forewings have sharper edges. The outer edge of the forewing discal band is more curved in ''mechowi''. Both are members of the ''zenobia''

species group In biology, a species complex is a group of closely related organisms that are so similar in appearance and other features that the boundaries between them are often unclear. The taxa in the complex may be able to hybridize readily with each oth ...

. In the ''zenobia'' group the basic upperside wing pattern is black with white or yellowish bands and spots. The underside is brown and basally there is a red area marked with black stripes and spots. In the discal area there is a yellowish band with black stripes and veins. Females resemble butterflies of the genus ''

Amauris ''Amauris'' is a genus of nymphalid butterflies in the Danainae subfamily. ''Amauris niavius niavius'', ''Amauris echeria jacksoni'', and ''Amauris dominicanus'' are mimicked by ''Papilio dardanus'' females. Other mimics of ''Amauris'' are fou ...

''. Both sexes lack tails. The clade members are: *'' Papilio cyproeofila'' Butler, 1868 *'' Papilio fernandus'' Fruhstorfer, 1903 *'' Papilio filaprae'' Suffert, 1904 *'' Papilio gallienus'' Distant, 1879 *''Papilio mechowi'' Dewitz, 1881 *''

Papilio mechowianus ''Papilio mechowianus'' is a species of swallowtail butterfly from the genus ''Papilio'' that is found in Angola and the Republic of the Congo. Taxonomy It is a member of the ''zenobia'' species group. In the ''zenobia'' group the basic uppers ...

'' Dewitz, 1885 *'' Papilio nobicea'' Suffert, 1904 *'' Papilio zenobia'' Fabricius, 1775

Description

It is very similar to '' Papilio cyproeofila''. It differs from ''P. mechowianus'' in having the white band narrow.

Robert Herbert Carcasson Robert Herbert Carcasson (5 December 1918, in Cheltenham, UK – 23 September 1982, in Victoria, B.C., Canada) was an English entomologist who specialised in butterflies, but also authored two field guides to tropical fishes. He joined the Coryndon ...

(1960) described it as: "Large, tail-less. Hindwing sharply angled at vein 4; a continuous pale yellow median band in male broken into large internervular spots in forewing. A series of large prominent yellow spots at margin of hindwing. Female has a broader yellow band. In the lower and denser forests of the Congo it is replaced by ''P.gallienus'' Distant, with which it has been confused."

Description

The wingspan is about 100–110 mm. The forewings are dark brown. A chain of yellowish spots dominates the wing. The underside is very similar to the upside. But, the basic colour is brown. The hindwings are dark brown. The edge is wavy. A thin, yellowish band dominates the wing. At the edge there is a chain of yellowish spots. The underside is brown. Next to the body there are many black stripes and veins. In the middle of the wing there is a thin, yellowish band. At the edge there is a chain of yellowish spots. The body (abdomen) is dark brown. The thorax and the head are dark brown. The underside of all parts is brown.

Status

It is considered common and not threatened.

Biogeographic realm

Afrotropical realm.

Etymology

''P. mechowi'' was named for Friedrich Wilhelm Alexander von Mechow.

References

*Carcasson, R.H. 1960 "The Swallowtail Butterflies of East Africa (Lepidoptera, Papilionidae)". ''Journal of the East Africa Natural History Society'
pdf
Key to East Africa members of the species group, diagnostic and other notes and figures. (Permission to host granted by The East Africa Natural History Society

External links

Global Butterfly Information System
Images (as subgenus ''Druryia'')

Images from

Naturhistorisches Museum Wien The Natural History Museum Vienna (german: Naturhistorisches Museum Wien) is a large natural history museum located in Vienna, Austria. It is one of the most important natural history museums worldwide. The NHM Vienna is one of the largest museum ...

* {{Taxonbar, from=Q7132931 mechowi Butterflies of Africa Butterflies described in 1881 Taxa named by Hermann Dewitz