 |
 
 |
|
|
|
Androgeus Swallowtail (Papilio androgeus Cramer)
Wing span: 5 1/4 - 5 1/2 inches (13.4 - 14 cm).
Identification: Male has elongated forewing and very short and narrow hindwing tails. Uppersides of fore- and hindwings have very broad yellow bands and no marginal rows of yellow spots. Females are black; hindwings each have 3 narrow pointed tails and blue iridescence on upperside.
Life history: Males patrol for receptive females. Eggs are laid singly; caterpillars resemble bird droppings. Chrysalids overwinter.
Flight: Many flights from April- October.
Caterpillar hosts: Leaves of trees in citrus (Rutaceae) family: orange (Citrus sinensis) and Zanthoxylum elephantiasis.
Adult food: Nectar from a variety of flowers.
Habitat: Overgrown citrus groves in Florida; tropical forests in central and south America.
Range: Mexico to Argentina; small population in south Florida.
Conservation: Not required. May be extirpated in the United States.
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:
DeVries, P. J. 1987. The butterflies of Costa Rica and their natural history.
Princeton University Press, Princeton, New Jersey. 327 pages, 50 color
plates.
Opler, P. A. and G. O. Krizek. 1984. Butterflies east of the Great Plains.
Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore. 294 pages, 54 color plates.
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
|
 1999 -
All Rights Reserved
| |