Orchard swallowtail butterfly

Appearance

Both male and female have black forewings with a white stripe, though there is more white overall on the female forewing. The hindwing is again black, and there is a white swath through the middle. Here the markings differ in that the female has chains of red to orange and blue crescents toward the edge. The markings on the underside are similar to those on top. The body is black. The wingspan is about 140 millimetres in females and 120 millimetres in males, making it rather large overall and the largest butterfly commonly seen in at least part of its range.

Despite being a swallowtail, which group derives its name from the distinctive tails on the hindwing, this characteristic is entirely absent.

Naming

* "Papilio aegeus aegeus" — Cape York - East Victoria, South Australia
⤷  "Papilio aegeus adrastus" C. & R. Felder, [1864] — Banda Group
⤷  "Papilio aegeus aegatinus" Rothschild, 1908 — Noemfoor Island
⤷  "Papilio aegeus goramensis" Rothschild, 1908 — Goram Island
⤷  "Papilio aegeus keianus" Rothschild, 1896 — Kai Island
⤷  "Papilio aegeus kissuanus" Rothschild, 1908 — Watubela Island, Goram Island
⤷  "Papilio aegeus oritas" Godman & Salvin, 1879 — New Ireland, New Hanover
⤷  "Papilio aegeus ormenulus" Fruhstorfer, 1902 — Fergusson Island
⤷  "Papilio aegeus ormenus" Guérin-Méneville, [1831] — Aru, Missol, Salawari, Jobi, Waigen, West Irian, Papua, New Guinea, Trobriand, D'Entrecastreaux, Woodlark, Lousiades, Torres Straits Is
⤷  "Papilio aegeus othello" Grose-Smith, 1894 — Biak
⤷  "Papilio aegeus websteri" Grose-Smith, 1894 — New Britain

Distribution

"Papilio aegeus" can be found in every state in Australia except Tasmania. Western Australia has well established colonies in the Albany region. Some people are promoting the controlled propagation of eggs and caterpillars in Western Australia, but it is generally found in eastern Australia. It is especially common in Queensland and is the largest butterfly commonly found in Brisbane where there are many citrus trees, on which the larvae feed. During summer, the distribution is temporarily extended to Victoria.

The subspecies "P. a. ormenus" is found on Papua New Guinea and Thursday Island.

A differentiating feature between males of "P. a. aegeus" and "P. a. ormenus" is that "P. a. aegeus" males have a red spot on the above side of each hindwing, which is absent in the males of "P. a. ormenus".

Other subspecies occur on islands in the Banda Sea and the Bismarck Sea.

Reproduction

The early instars are brown with three white patches, one the: thorax, above the first pair of prolegs, and one on 8th and 9th segment of the abdomen. It is lined with black and white tubercles. The larva only feed on their food plants, citrus. Feeding usually takes place during the day and resting on the upperside of leaves during the night, resembling fresh bird droppings.

The later instars are green with irregular white, yellow or brown markings that run diagonally up/back from the bottom edge of the thorax to the 4th and 6th segments. After about four weeks, the larva may have reached a length of 60 millimetres and be ready to pupate.

The larvae are sometimes parasitised by other parasitic insects. Like other swallowtail butterflies, when disturbed, the caterpillar erects its bright red osmeterium from behind the head, releasing the smell of citrus, to drive predators away.