Red-bodied swallowtail

Appearance

The forewings are black, with white internervular shading. The hindwings have scalloped edges, are black and have no tails. The hindwing has a line of dark-red postdiscal spots. In the middle of wing there is a big white discal patch. The underside of both wings are the same as the above side, but the underside has brighter red spots. The body is black with a red abdomen. The sexes are alike.

Naming

The following subspecies are recognised:

⤷ "P. p. aignanus " [Rothschild]
⤷ "P. p. asinius" [Fruhstorfer]
⤷ "P. p. dampierensis" [Hagen]
⤷ "P. p. godartianus" [Lucas]
⤷ "P. p. humboldti " [Rothschild]
⤷ "P. p. kajelanus" [Fruhstorfer]
⤷ "P. p. lascarus" [Fruhstorfer]
⤷ "P. p. leodamas" [Wallace]
⤷ "P. p. manus" [Talbot]
⤷ "P. p. meforanus" [Rothschild]
⤷ "P. p. naissus" [Fruhstorfer]
⤷ "P. p. novobritannicus" [Rothschild]
⤷ "P. p. orinomus" [Rothschild]
⤷ "P. p. polydaemon" [Mathew]
⤷ "P. p. queenslandicus" [Rothschild, 1895]
⤷ "P. p. septentrionalis" [Rothschild]
⤷ "P. p. tenimberensis" [Rothschild]
⤷ "P. p. thessalia" [Swinhoe]
⤷ "P. p. utuanensis" [Ribbe]
⤷ "P. p. varus" [Fruhstorfer]

Distribution

Indonesia, Tanimbar, Irian Jaya, Kai, Aru, Waigeu and Skouten Islands), Papua New Guinea, Bismarck Archipelago, Bougainville, Solomons, Trobriand Islands, D'Entrecasteaux Islands, Louisiade Archipelago and Australia.

Status

It is generally common and not threatened as a species, though some subspecies may be threatened.

Evolution

The larva is mottled brown with the rows of red and yellow fleshy tubercles typical of Troidini. The larval food plants are in the genus "Aristolochia" - "Aristolochia chalmersii", "Aristolochia indica", "Aristolochia tagala", "Aristolochia thozetii", "Pararistolochia australopithecurus", "Pararistolochia deltantha", "Pararistolochia linearifolia", "Pararistolochia peninsulensis".
The pupa is white with brown marks. The dorsum is concave, and there is a row of flanges along each side. The pupal length is 3 cm.