Graphium leonidas (Veined Swordtail, Geäderter Schwertschwanz)

Graphium leonidas, also called Veined Swordtail or Common Graphium is a simple butterfly from Afrotropic ecozone (Africa). The first description was in 1793 by Fabricius. With a wingspan of 8.0 – 10.0 cm the Veined Swordtail is a small member of the family PAPILIONIDAE. The butterfly is black with white spots. Hind wings have no tails.

Photos for easy identification

: Photo © by Thomas Neubauer; from assortment of Dr. Hildegard Winkler specialty shop of entomology (see links)

: Photo © by Thomas Neubauer; from assortment of Dr. Hildegard Winkler specialty shop of entomology (see links)

: Photo © by Thomas Neubauer; from assortment of Dr. Hildegard Winkler specialty shop of entomology (see links)

: Photo © by Thomas Neubauer; from assortment of Dr. Hildegard Winkler specialty shop of entomology (see links)

These are nice photos of Graphium leonidas (Veined Swordtail, Geäderter Schwertschwanz). Graphium leonidas is a member of the family PAPILIONIDAE from Afrotropic ecozone (Africa).

Description

The forewings are black. The margin is ridged. At the margin there is a chain of small white spots. There are some big white spots on wing.
The underside is a copy of upside, but the black is change to brown.

The hind wings are black and have no tails. At the margin there are two chains of little white spots. Nearby the body there is a broad white area.
The underside is a copy of upside, but the black is change to brown. The veins are very dark.

The body is black, but the upside of opistosoma is white.

Sex differences: None

Distribution

The Veined Swordtail (Graphium leonidas) is a butterfly of the Afrotropic ecozone (Africa). The distribution extend from Mauritania to Sudan and South Africa and include Madagascar.

: This world map shows the ecozones in which this butterfly is distributed.

Larval food / Foodplants

Annonaceae:

Annona senegalensis
Artabotrys
Landolphia buchananii
Landolphia ugandensis
Monanthotaxis caffra
Popowia
Uvaria leptocladon
Uvaria versicolor

General information

The first description of this butterfly was in 1793 by Fabricius. There are two subspecies.

Graphium leonidas santamarthae [Joicey & Talbot]
Graphium leonidas thomasius [Le Cerf]

There are two forms of Graphium leonidas.

Graphium leonidas f. brasidas
Graphium leonidas f. leonidas

Protection provisions / Red List

CITES: (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora):

-no entry- (as at 23.06.2005)
EU regulation on trading with species of wild Fauna and Flora

-no entry- (as at 19.08.2005)
IUCN Red List of threatened species:

-no entry- (as at 2004) (see: www.redlist.org/)