Papilio krishna (Krishna Peacock, Krishna Pfau)

Papilio krishna, also called Krishna Peacock is a very nice butterfly from Australasia / Indomalaya ecozone (Australia). The first description was in 1857 by Moore. The wingspan is about 10.0 – 12.0 cm. The Krishna Peacock is a member of the family PAPILIONIDAE. The butterfly is black with green, blue and purple areas and spots on the wing. Hind wings have tails. This butterfly very similar to Papilio arcturus.

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 krishna (Krishna Peacock, Krishna Pfau). Papilio krishna is a member of the family PAPILIONIDAE from Australasia / Indomalaya ecozone (Australia).

Description

The fore wings are black. The whole wing is powdered by green scales. Next to the margin there is a light green band.
The underside is black. Next to the margin there is a broad whitish area with black veins or black horizontal stripes. In the middle of wing there is a white stripe.

The hind wings are black and have broad tails. The margin is ridged. The whole wing is powdered by green scales. In the middle of wing there is an interesting band which exchange from a blue and turquoise area into a green band. Next to the margin there are four purple spots. Nearby this chain there is a white stripe. In back there is a purple and black eye.
The underside is black. The bigger part of wing is powdered by white scales. Next to the margin there is a chain of big purple spots.

The body is black. Furthermore the upside is powdered by green scales.

Sex differences: None.

Macro photos

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

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

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

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

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

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

Here you can see some macro photos of Papilio krishna.

Distribution

The Krishna Peacock (Papilio krishna) is a butterfly of the Australasia / Indomalaya ecozone (Australia). The distribution is extend from Myanmar to the North of India and northward to China.

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

Larval food

Rutaceae:

Euodia fraxinifolia

General information

The first description of this butterfly was in 1857 by Moore. There are only two subspecies.

Papilio krishna charlesi [Fruhstorfer]
Papilio krishna thawgawa [Tytler, 1939]

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/)