Papilio nireus (Narrow Green Banded Swallowtail)

Papilio nireus, also called Narrow Green Banded Swallowtail is a simple butterfly from Afrotropic ecozone (Africa). The first description was in 1758 by Linnaeus. With a wingspan of 10.0 – 11.0 cm the Narrow Green Banded Swallowtail is a big member of the family PAPILIONIDAE. The butterfly is black with a green band. Hind wings have no 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 nireus (Narrow Green Banded Swallowtail). Papilio nireus is a member of the family PAPILIONIDAE from Afrotropic ecozone (Africa).

Description

The forewings are black. In the middle of wing there is a green band. At the pinion there are two little green spots.
The underside is dark brown.

The hind wings are black and have no tails. The margin is ridged. At the margin there is a chain of green spots. In the middle of wing there is a broad green band.
The underside is dark brown and the veins are black. At the margin there is a chain of golden spots.

The body is black.

Sex differences: At female all green spots and bands are broader than male.

Distribution

The Narrow Green Spotted Swallowtail (Papilio nireus) is a butterfly of the Afrotropic ecozone (Africa). The distribution extend from Senegal to Somalia and South Africa.

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

Larval food

Rutaceae:

Calodendrum capense
Citrus aurantium
Citrus limonia
Clausena anisata
Teclea natalensis
Teclea swynnertonii
Toddalia asiatica
Vepris undulata
Zanthoxylum

General information

The first description of this butterfly was in 1758 by Linnaeus. There are only three subspecies.

Papilio nireus lyaeus [Doubleday, 1845]
Papilio nireus pseudonireus [Felder, 1865]
Papilio nireus wilsoni [Rothschild]

The caterpillar live on citrus-plants. The Narrow Green Banded Swallowtail is easy to find on flowers, because it is not shy. There are some very similar species.

: Photo © by Thomas Neubauer; House of butterflies, Vienna

: Photo © by Thomas Neubauer; House of butterflies, Vienna

Here you can see Papilio nireus alive.

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/)