Broad-banded Swallowtail (Papilio astyalus Godart)
Wing span: 4 5/8 - 4 3/4 inches (11.7 - 12 cm).
Identification: Upperside of male forewing has a broad diagonal band and a yellow spot near the end of the cell. Tails all black, narrow. Female mostly black; hindwing has a blue and gray-green submarginal band on upperside and very short tails.
Life history: Not reported.
Flight: Probably 2 from April- October.
Caterpillar hosts: Leaves of citrus trees (Rutaceae family).
Adult food: Nectar of flowers including Lantana.
Habitat: Subtropical forests.
Range: Mexico south to Argentina. Occasional in south Texas; rare stray to southern Arizona and north Texas.
Conservation: Not needed for tropical stray.
Management needs: None required.
The Nature Conservancy Global Rank: G5 - Demonstrably secure globally, though it may be quite rare in parts of its range, especially at the periphery.
References:
North American Butterfly Association. 1995. Checklist & map; English names of North American butterflies. North American Butterfly Association, Morristown. 43 pages. Opler, P. A. and V. Malikul. 1992. A field guide to eastern butterflies. Peterson field guide #4. Houghton-Mifflin Co., Boston. 396 pages, 48 color plates. Scott, J. A. 1986. The butterflies of North America. Stanford University Press, Stanford, Calif. 583 pages, 64 color plates.
Author: Jane M. Struttmann
State and Regional References:
Bailowitz, R. A. and J. P. Brock. 1991. Butterflies of Southeastern Arizona. Tucson, Ariz.: Sonoran Arthropod Studies, Inc. Garth, J.S. 1950. Butterflies of Grand Canyon National Park. Grand Canyon Natural History Association, Grand Canyon, Ariz. Opler, Paul A. 1999. Peterson Field Guide to Western Butterflies, revised edition. Houghton Mifflin Co., Boston, Mass. Stanford, R.E. and P.A. Opler. 1993. Atlas of Western USA Butterflies. Privately published, Denver, Colo. Tilden, J.W. and A.C. Smith. 1986. A Field Guide to Western Butterflies. Houghton Mifflin Co., Boston, Mass.