Mocker Swallowtail - Papilio dardanus

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comments (6)

WildFlower

Lion

I have some doubts about this one. I wonder if it is not a Papilio dardanus or something else...
http://eprints.mdx.ac.uk/15565/1/journal.pone.0096815.pdf
http://heliconius.zoo.cam.ac.uk/martin-thompson/
http://www.alexfreeman.co.uk/thesis/3/3.html
http://www.sanbi.org/sites/default/files/documents/documents/bioseries16butterfly.pdf Posted 8 years ago
1. Albert Kang
  
  Lion
  
  If not mistaken, the species ID of Hypolimnas anthedon was created by you, WildFlower.
  Shall I removed it? Posted 8 years ago
2. 1. WildFlower
    
    Lion
    
    Yes, I shouldn't have identified it because I was not sure about the ID. Hypolimnas anthedon was the closest I found in the Nymphalidae family because that's what it looked like at first sight. It was getting late so I identified it and went to bed. Not too happy with the ID I checked it again on the next day and found this mimicry ring. The female Papilio dardanus looks like a better match. According to this distribution map the subspecies cenea is found in South Africa. I am not sure which form it is exactly.
    http://www.mimeticbutterflies.org/database.php Posted 8 years ago
  2. 1. Albert Kang
      
      Lion
      
      Thanks for the corrected ID, WildFlower :) Posted 8 years ago

Claire Hamilton

Lion

I agree with Wildflower on the ID, this one being a mimic of the African monarch. Also female as only the male has the tails. Posted 8 years ago
1. Albert Kang
  
  Lion
  
  Thanks, Claire. Posted 8 years ago

The Mocker swallowtail

''Papilio dardanus'' , is a species of butterfly in the family Papilionidae . The species is broadly distributed throughout sub-Saharan Africa. The British entomologist E. B. Poulton described it as "the most interesting butterfly in the world".

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Similar species: Moths And Butterflies

Species identified by WildFlower