Papilionidae
PAPILIONIDAE ( SWALLOWTAILS )
The 700 or so members of this family are generally larger than most butterflies, and in fact the Papilionidae contains the largest of all butterflies, the magnificent birdwings, with a wingspan of more than 97/8 in / 250 mm. Not all swallowtails have the tailed hind wings suggested by their common name. Although many species are brilliantly coloured on the upper sides, this colour is not always visible except in flight, because most swallowtails close their wings when at rest, revealing there mostly much drabber undersides. A characteristic of this family is the way in which many species flutter their wings constantly when feeding. Swallowtail caterpillars are smooth-bodied and possess a strange forked organ called an osmeterium, which can be protruded from behind the head. It is believed to have a defensive function.
Generally large and attractive butterflies, much sought after by collectors. Some have tails. Patterns of flight vary considerably, that of the Trogonoptera and Troides genera being bird-like; Papilios with lazy, but none less rapid flight; and Graphium restless and darting. Males of a number of species are susceptible to decomposing prawns. Where sexes resemble one another, females are generally larger with more rounded wings. Forelegs are fully developed in both sexes. The genus Chilasa contains good examples of mimicry whilst P. memnon agenor demonstrates polymorphism. Where food plants are not specifically mentioned, they are likely to be found in species (spp) of Aristolochiaceae for Trogonoptera, Troides and Atrophaneura; Lauraceae for Chilasa and Graphium; and Rutaceae for Papilios.
The Caterpillar is green or brown, mottled with orange, green, yellow and white, and has a white line along each side. The thorax and the final abdominal segment each have a pair of conical lumps. The thorax is humped. The eggs of this species are pale yellow, and spherical. They are laid singly on young shoots of a food plant. The pupa is green with a white line along each side. It is attached to a stem of the food plant with cremaster and girdle. Depending on environmental conditions, the pupal period can be anything between two weeks and three years. The adults have black wings, each with a wide white band. The hind wings also each have a row of red and of blue spots, and a blunt tail at the tornus. The butterflies have a wingspan of about 8 cm.
Swallowtail butterflies are large, colorful butterflies which form the family Papilionidae. There are at least 550 species, and though the majority are tropical, members of the family are found on all continents except Antarctica. The family includes the largest butterflies in the world, the birdwing butterflies of Australia (genus Ornithoptera).
Swallowtails Papilionidae
Swallowtails differ from all other butterflies in a number of anatomical traits. Most notably, their caterpillars possess a unique organ behind their heads, called the osmeterium. Normally hidden, this forked structure can be everted when the caterpillar is threatened, and emits smelly secretions containing terpenes. The adults are often tailed, giving the insect its name.