Graphium philonoe (White-dappled Swallowtail)

Graphium philonoe, also called White-dappled Swallowtail is a butterfly from Afrotropic ecozone (Africa). The first description was in 1873 by Ward. The wingspan is about 6 – 7 cm. Graphium philonoe is a member of the family PAPILIONIDAE. The butterfly is black. White spots and areas dominate the wings. Hind wings have no tails.

Photos for easy identification

Photo © by Naturhistorisches Museum Wien; Photographer Thomas Neubauer

Photo © by Naturhistorisches Museum Wien; Photographer Thomas Neubauer

Here you can see some photos of Graphium philonoe (White-dappled Swallowtail). Graphium philonoe is a member of the family PAPILIONIDAE from Afrotropic ecozone (Africa).

Description

The fore wings are black. Many white spots dominate the wing.
The underside of Graphium philonoe is very similar to the upside. But, the basic colour is brown.

The hind wings of Graphium philonoe are black. The edge is wavy. At the outer edge there is a chain of little white spots. Next to the body there is a large white area with black veins.
The underside is very similar to the upside. But, the basic colour is brown.

The body (abdomen) is black. The thorax and the head are black. The underside of all parts is white.

Sex differences: ---

Distribution

Graphium philonoe is a butterfly from the Afrotropic (Africa) ecozone. You can observe this butterfly from Congo until Kenya, Tanzania and Mozambique.

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

Larval food

Annonaceae:

Annona sp.
Artabotrys sp.
Monodora sp.
Uvaria sp.

General information

The first description of this butterfly was in 1873 by Ward. There is only one subspecies.

Graphium philonoe whalleyi [Talbot, 1929]

Protection provisions / Red List

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

-no entry-
EU regulation on trading with species of wild Fauna and Flora

-no entry-
IUCN Red List of threatened species:

-no entry-