Papilio lycophron

Papilio lycophron is rich in contrast butterfly from Neotropic ecozone (South America). The first description was in 1823 by Hübner. With a wingspan of 8.0 – 10.0 cm Papilio lycophron is a small member of the family PAPILIONIDAE. The butterfly is dark brown with yellow spots and bands. 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 lycophron. Papilio lycophron is a member of the family PAPILIONIDAE from Neotropic ecozone (South America).

Description

The forewings are dark brown. In the middle of wing there is a very broad yellow band. At the margin there is a chain of little yellow spots.
The underside is a copy of upside, but at the wing leading edge there are some yellow lines.

The hind wings are dark brown and have tails. The margin is ridged. At the margin there is a chain of yellow spots. Nearby the body there is a big yellow area. In back there is a red and blue eye.
The underside is a copy from upside, but all yellow areas and spots are broader than upside. And between the yellow area and the chain of yellow spots there are a chain of red spots and a chain of little bluish spots.

The body is dark brown and yellow.Sex differences: The female has no yellow bands on wings. But the upside of hind wings is a copy of under side.

Macro photographs

: Photo © by Thomas Neubauer; 26.08.2006, Macro photograph of Papilio lycophron (upside)

: Photo © by Thomas Neubauer; 26.08.2006, Macro photograph of Papilio lycophron (upside)

: Photo © by Thomas Neubauer; 26.08.2006, Macro photograph of Papilio lycophron (upside)

: Photo © by Thomas Neubauer; 26.08.2006, Macro photograph of Papilio lycophron (underside)

: Photo © by Thomas Neubauer; 26.08.2006, Macro photograph of Papilio lycophron (underside)

: Photo © by Thomas Neubauer; 26.08.2006, Macro photograph of Papilio lycophron (underside)

Here you can see some macro photographs of Papilio lycophron.

Distribution

Papilio lycophron is a butterfly of the Neotropic ecozone (South America). The distribution extend from Mexico to Peru and from Bolivia to the South of Argentina.

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

Larval food

Citrus

General information

The first description of this butterfly was in 1823 by Hübner. There are no subspecies.

Papilio lycophron is very similar to the King´s Swallowtail (Papilio thoas). The main differentiators are the bigger size of the King´s Swallowtail, the chain of red spots on the underside of Papilio lycophron and the red in the eye of hind wings of Papilio lycophron.

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/)