Papilio astyalus
Encyclopedia
The Broad-banded Swallowtail or Astyalus Swallowtail (Papilio astyalus) is a butterfly
of the Papilionidae family. It is found from Mexico
south to Argentina
. It is occasionally reported from southern Texas
and rare strays can be found up to southern Arizona
and northern Texas
.
The wingspan
is 117-120 mm. Adults are on wing from April to October. There are probably two generations per year.
The larvae feed on the leaves of Citrus
trees. Adults feed on the nectar of various flowers, including Lantana
species.
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...
of the Papilionidae family. It is found from Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
south to Argentina
Argentina
Argentina , officially the Argentine Republic , is the second largest country in South America by land area, after Brazil. It is constituted as a federation of 23 provinces and an autonomous city, Buenos Aires...
. It is occasionally reported from southern Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
and rare strays can be found up to southern Arizona
Arizona
Arizona ; is a state located in the southwestern region of the United States. It is also part of the western United States and the mountain west. The capital and largest city is Phoenix...
and northern Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
.
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 117-120 mm. Adults are on wing from April to October. There are probably two generations per year.
The larvae feed on the leaves of Citrus
Citrus
Citrus is a common term and genus of flowering plants in the rue family, Rutaceae. Citrus is believed to have originated in the part of Southeast Asia bordered by Northeastern India, Myanmar and the Yunnan province of China...
trees. Adults feed on the nectar of various flowers, including Lantana
Lantana
Lantana is a genus of about 150 species of perennial flowering plants in the verbena family, Verbenaceae. They are native to tropical regions of the Americas and Africa but exist as an introduced species in numerous areas, especially in the Australian-Pacific region. The genus includes both...
species.
Subspecies
- Papilio astyalus astyalus (Brazil (Rio Grande do Sul, São Paulo, Minas Gerais, Parana), Argentina, Paraguay)
- Papilio astyalus pallas Gray, [1853] (Texas, Mexico, Costa Rica)
- Papilio astyalus bajaensis Brown & Faulkner, 1992 (Mexico (Baja California Sur))
- Papilio astyalus hippomedon (C. & R. Felder, 1859) (Colombia, Venezuela)
- Papilio astyalus phanias Rothschild & Jordan, 1906 (Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, Goias)
- Papilio astyalus anchicayaensis Constantino, Le Crom & Salazar, 2002 (Colombia)