Papilio buddha (Malabar Banded Peacock)

Papilio buddha, also called Malabar Banded Peacock is also a great butterfly from Australasia / Indomalaya ecozone (Australia). The first description was in 1872 by Westwood. With a wingspan of 9.0 – 10.0 cm the Malabar Banded Peacock is a small member of the family PAPILIONIDAE. The butterfly is black with iridescence greenish blue areas. Hind wings have 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 buddha (Malabar Banded Peacock). Papilio buddha is a member of the family PAPILIONIDAE from Australasia / Indomalaya ecozone (Australia).

Description

The forewings are black. In the middle of wind there is a broad greenish blue band. Nearby the body the black wing is powdered by green scales.
The underside is two coloured. First part is dark brown and powdered by whitish scales. Second part is light brown and has dark veins.

The hind wings are black and have tails. The margin is ridged. At the margin there are two orange spots. Nearby the body the black wing is powdered by green scales. In the middle of wing there is a big greenish blue area.
The underside is dark brown or black and powdered by whitish scales. The margin is light brown. At the margine there is a chain of tree coloured spots (white, orange and black).

The body is dark brown and powdered by green scales.

Sex differences:

Macro photos

Here you can see some macro photos of the Malabar Banded Peacock (Papilio buddha).

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

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

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

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

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

: Photo © by Thomas Neubauer; 20.08.2006, macro photograph of Papilio buddha (underside)

Distribution

The Malabar Banded Peacock (Papilio buddha) is a butterfly of the Australasia / Indomalaya ecozone (Australia). The distribution is resrticted to India.

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

Larval food

Xanthoxylon rhetsa

General information

The first description of this butterfly was in 1872 by Westwood. There are no subspecies.

The name comes from the Malabar Coast in southwest India.

The iricescenc greenish blue of Papilio buddha depend on interference. If you see the Malabar Banded Peacock from two different angle, the green will change to blue.

: Photo © by Thomas Neubauer

Here you can see the blue on Papilio buddha.

Protection provisions / Red List

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

-no entry- (as at 14.06.2006)
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/)