Papilio aegeus (Orchard Swallowtail, Garten Schwalbenschwanz)

Papilio aegeus, also called Orchard Swallowtail is a simple coloured butterfly from Australasia / Indomalaya ecozone (Australia). The first description was in 1805 by Donovan. With a wingspan of 10.0 – 12.0 cm the Orchard Swallowtail is a big member of the family PAPILIONIDAE. The butterfly is black with areas on wing. Hind wings have no tails.

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 Papilio aegeus ormenus (Orchard Swallowtail, Garten Schwalbenschwanz) (male). Papilio aegeus ormenus is a member of the family PAPILIONIDAE from Australasia / Indomalaya ecozone (Australia).

Description

The forewings are black. In the pinion there is a white stripe.
The underside is a copy of upside, but the pinion is lighter than upside.

The hind wings are black and have no tails. The margin is ridged. In the middle of wing there is a broad white area.
The underside is black. In back there are some red spots. There are a chain of little whitish spots on wing.

The body is black.

Sex differences: The female has more white on forewings. On hind wings there are a chain of red spots and a chain of blue spots. Underside is a copy of upside.

Macro photos

: Photo © by Thomas Neubauer; 20.08.2006, macro photograph of Papilio aegeus (upside)

: Photo © by Thomas Neubauer; 20.08.2006, macro photograph of Papilio aegeus (upside)

: Photo © by Thomas Neubauer; 20.08.2006, macro photograph of Papilio aegeus (upside)

: Photo © by Thomas Neubauer; 20.08.2006, macro photograph of Papilio aegeus (upside)

Here you can see some macro photos of Papilio aegeus (female).

Distribution

The Orchard Swallowtail (Papilio aegeus) is a butterfly of the Australasia / Indomalaya ecozone (Australia). The distribution include Papua New Guinea and whole Australia.

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

Larval food

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General information

The first description of this butterfly was in 1805 by Donovan . There are some subspecies.

Papilio aegeus adrastus [Felder]
Papilio aegeus aegatinus [Rothschild]
Papilio aegeus goramensis [Rothschild]
Papilio aegeus keianus [Rothschild]
Papilio aegeus kissuanus [Rothschild]
Papilio aegeus ormenus (Guérin-Méneville)
Papilio aegeus othello [Grose-Smith]
Papilio aegeus websteri [Grose-Smith]
Papilio aegeus oritas [Godman & Salvin]

: Photo © by Thomas Neubauer

: Photo © by Thomas Neubauer

: Photo © by Thomas Neubauer

: Photo © by Thomas Neubauer

Here you can see the female of Papilio aegeus.

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/)