Papilio lormieri (Central Emperor Swallowtail)

Papilio lormieri, also called Central Emperor Swallowtail is a very nice butterfly from Afrotropic ecozone (Africa). The first description was in 1874 by Distant. The wingspan is about 11.0 – 12.0 cm. The Central Emperor Swallowtail is a member of the family PAPILIONIDAE. The butterfly is black with yellowish spots on wings. 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 lormieri (Central Emperor Swallowtail). Papilio lormieri is a member of the family PAPILIONIDAE from Afrotropic ecozone (Africa).

Description

The forewings are black. At the margin there is a chain of little yellow spots. In the middle of wing there is a chain of big yellow spots. At the wing leading edge there are some brown lines.
The underside is a copy of upside, but there are some yellow lines at the wing leading edge. Furthermore there is an extra yellow spot at the wing leading edge.

The hind wings are black and have very long tails. The margin is ridged. At the margin there are two chains of yellow spots. At the start and the end of these chains there are big blue, black and orange eyes. In the middle of wing there is a yellow band. There are two little yellow spots on tail.
The underside is copy of upside, but in the middle of wing there is a black blue and brown area. Furthermore there are some yellow lines nearby the body.

The body is black, but there are some yellow lines.

Sex differences: ---

Macro photographs

: Photo © by Thomas Neubauer; 26.08.2006, macro photograph of Papilio lormieri (upside)

: Photo © by Thomas Neubauer; 26.08.2006, macro photograph of Papilio lormieri (upside)

: Photo © by Thomas Neubauer; 26.08.2006, macro photograph of Papilio lormieri (upside)

: Photo © by Thomas Neubauer; 26.08.2006, macro photograph of Papilio lormieri (underside)

: Photo © by Thomas Neubauer; 26.08.2006, macro photograph of Papilio lormieri (underside)

: Photo © by Thomas Neubauer; 26.08.2006, macro photograph of Papilio lormieri (underside)

Here you can see some macro photographs of Papilio lormieri.

Distribution

The Central Emperor Swallowtail (Papilio lormieri) is a butterfly of the Afrotropic ecozone (Africa). The distribution extend from Liberia to Uganda and Angola.

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

Larval food

Rutaceae:

Calodendrum
Citrus
Clausena anisata
Fagaropsis
Teclea
Toddalia
Vepris
Zanthoxylum

General information

The first description of this butterfly was in 1874 by Distant. There are only two subspecies.

Papilio lormieri crocea [Storace, 1955]
Papilio lormieri semlikana [Le Cerf]

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/)