Graphium ridleyanus

Graphium ridleyanus is a very interesting butterfly from Afrotropic ecozone (Africa). The first description was in 1843 by White. With a wingspan of 7.0 – 9.0 cm Graphium ridleyanus is a small member of the family PAPILIONIDAE. The butterfly is brown with red spots and red areas. Hind wings have no tails. Graphium ridleyanus is very similar to members of genus Acraea.

Photos for easy identification

: Photo © by Thomas Neubauer

: Photo © by Thomas Neubauer

: Photo © by Thomas Neubauer

: Photo © by Thomas Neubauer

These are nice photos of Graphium ridleyanus. Graphium ridleyanus is a member of the family PAPILIONIDAE from Afrotropic ecozone (Africa).

Description

The forewings are brown and grey. Nearby the body there are some dark brown areas. There is a chain of big red spots in the middle of wing. The veins are dark.
The underside is a copy of upside.

The hind wings are red and have no tails. The margin is brown. Nearby the body there is a brown area. There are some black and yellow spots on wing.
The underside is very colourful. There are green, orange and pink areas and some black spots on wing.

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

Sex differences:

Macro photographs

: Photo © by Thomas Neubauer; 20.08.2006, macro photograph of Graphium ridleyanus (upside)

: Photo © by Thomas Neubauer; 26.08.2006, macro photograph of Graphium ridleyanus (upside)

: Photo © by Thomas Neubauer; 26.08.2006, macro photograph of Graphium ridleyanus (upside)

: Photo © by Thomas Neubauer; 26.08.2006, macro photograph of Graphium ridleyanus (upside)

: Photo © by Thomas Neubauer; 26.08.2006, macro photograph of Graphium ridleyanus (underside)

: Photo © by Thomas Neubauer; 26.08.2006, macro photograph of Graphium ridleyanus (underside)

Here you can see some macro photographs of Graphium ridleyanus.

Distribution

Graphium ridleyanus is a butterfly of the Afrotropic ecozone (Africa). The distribution extend from Liberia to Nigeria, Central African Republic and Angola.

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

Larval food / Foodplants

Annonaceae:

Popowia

General information

The first description of this butterfly was in 1843 by White. There are no subspecies.
Graphium ridleyanus is a good example for Batesian Mimicry, because this butterfly mimic some members of genus Acracea. Acracea butterflies are uneatable for predator.

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/)