Papilio laglaizei

Papilio laglaizei is a very exceptional butterfly from Australasia / Indomalaya ecozone (Australia). The first description was in 1877 by Depuiset. The wingspan is about 9.0 – 10.0 cm. Papilio laglaizei is a member of the family PAPILIONIDAE. The butterfly is dark brown with blue and grey areas on the wing. Hind wings have tails. This butterfly mimics an inedible or noxious moth (Alcidis agathyrsus). Papilio laglaizei is a very good example for Batesian mimicry.

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 laglaizei. Papilio laglaizei is a member of the family PAPILIONIDAE from Australasia / Indomalaya ecozone (Australia).

Description

The fore wings are dark-brown or black. In the pinion there is a thin and dazzle-blue or grey stripe. In the middle of wing there is a broad, dazzle blue or grey band. Between this band and the body the black ground is a little bit dazzle-blue.
The underside is very colourful. The pinion is black and dark-brown and contains a grey stripe. The bigger part of wing is bluish and grey and contains one black stripe and one black spot.

The hind wings are black. They have tails. The margin is ridged. The margin and the tail are bluish. In the middle of the wing there is a broad, dazzle-blue or green band.
The underside is very colourful. The ground is dazzle-blue or grey. The veins are pink. Next to the body, there is an orange spot. Next to the margin, there are three chains of black spots. Between of these black spots there are some green spots.

The body is black, but the underside is whitish.

Sex differences: ---

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 (underside)

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

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

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

Here you can see some macro photos of Papilio laglaizei.

Distribution

Papilio laglaizei is a butterfly of the Australasia / Indomalaya ecozone (Australia). The distribution is restricted to Papua New Guinea.

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

Larval food

Lauraceae:

Litsea irianensis

General information

The first description of this butterfly was in 1877 by Depuiset . There are no subspecies.

This butterfly mimics an inedible or noxious moth (Alcidis agathyrsus). Papilio laglaizei is a avery good example for Batesian mimicry.

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/)