Papilio palamedes (Laurel Swallowtail, Palamedes Schwalbenschwanz, Machaon de Palamedes)

Papilio palamedes, also called Laurel Swallowtail or Palamedes Schwalbenschwanz is a common butterfly from Neotropic ecozone (South America). The first description was in 1773 by Drury. With a wingspan of 9.0 – 11.0 cm the Laurel Swallowtail is a big member of the family PAPILIONIDAE. The butterfly is black with yellow and red spots.

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 palamedes (Laurel Swallowtail, Palamedes Schwalbenschwanz, Machaon de Palamedes). Papilio palamedes is a member of the family PAPILIONIDAE from Neotropic ecozone (South America).

Description

The forewings are black. At the margin there are two chains of yellow spots.
The underside is a copy of upside, but there is an extra yellow spot at the wing leading edge.

The hind wings are black and have tails. The margin is ridged. At the margin there is a chain of big yellow spots. In the middle of wing there is a broad yellow band. In back there is a little blue, black and red eye.
The underside is dark brown or black. At the margin there is a chain of big red spots. In the middle of wing there is a chain of big yellow and red spots. Between this two chains there is a chain of little blue spots. Nearby the body there is a small yellow strip.

The body is black with yellow stripes.

Sex differences: None.

Distribution

The Laurel Swallowtail (Papilio palamedes) is a butterfly of the Neotropic ecozone (South America) and the Nearctic ecozone (North America). The distribution extend from Panama and Mexico to south coast of USA.

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

Larval food

Lauraceae

General information

The first description of this butterfly was in 1773 by Drury. There are no subspecies.

The Palamedes Swallowtail is wanderer. The flight period is from March to December. Papilio palamedes fly in humid woods and marshes.

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/)