Graphium policenes
Encyclopedia
The Common Swordtail or Small Striped Swordtail (Graphium policenes) is a species of butterfly
in the Papilionidae family, found in tropical Africa
.
The wingspan
is 55–60 mm in males and 60–65 mm in females. Species has continuous broods during warmer months.
The larva
feed on Uvaria caffra, Artabotrys monteiroae, Uvaria bukobensis, Uvara chamae, Landolphia buchannani, Landolphia ugandensis, Polyalthia
spp., Annona reticulata
, Annona senegalensis
, Annona squamosa
, and Monanthotaxis caffra.
Butterfly
A butterfly is a mainly day-flying insect of the order Lepidoptera, which includes the butterflies and moths. Like other holometabolous insects, the butterfly's life cycle consists of four parts: egg, larva, pupa and adult. Most species are diurnal. Butterflies have large, often brightly coloured...
in the Papilionidae family, found in tropical Africa
Africa
Africa is the world's second largest and second most populous continent, after Asia. At about 30.2 million km² including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of the Earth's total surface area and 20.4% of the total land area...
.
The wingspan
Wingspan
The wingspan of an airplane or a bird, is the distance from one wingtip to the other wingtip. For example, the Boeing 777 has a wingspan of about ; and a Wandering Albatross caught in 1965 had a wingspan of , the official record for a living bird.The term wingspan, more technically extent, is...
is 55–60 mm in males and 60–65 mm in females. Species has continuous broods during warmer months.
The larva
Larva
A larva is a distinct juvenile form many animals undergo before metamorphosis into adults. Animals with indirect development such as insects, amphibians, or cnidarians typically have a larval phase of their life cycle...
feed on Uvaria caffra, Artabotrys monteiroae, Uvaria bukobensis, Uvara chamae, Landolphia buchannani, Landolphia ugandensis, Polyalthia
Polyalthia
Polyalthia is a genus of plant in family Annonaceae. It contains the following species :* Polyalthia angustissima Ridl.* Polyalthia chrysotricha Ridley* Polyalthia elmeri Merr....
spp., Annona reticulata
Annona reticulata
Annona reticulata is a small deciduous or semi-evergreen tree in the plant family Annonaceae.It is best known for its fruit, called custard-apple, a name it shares with fruits of other species from the same genus: A. cherimola and A. squamosa or sometimes it is called wild-sweetsop,...
, Annona senegalensis
Annona senegalensis
Annona senegalensis, commonly known as African custard-apple, wild custard apple, and wild soursop, is a species of flowering plant in the custard apple family, Annonaceae. The specific epithet, senegalensis, translates to mean "of Senegal", the country where the type specimen was collected.A...
, Annona squamosa
Annona squamosa
Annona squamosa a small well-branched tree or shrub that bears edible fruits called sugar-apple, species of the genus Annona and member of the family Annonaceae more willing to grow at lower altitudes than its relatives Annona reticulata and Annona cherimola making it the most widely cultivated of...
, and Monanthotaxis caffra.