Papilio pelaus (Pelaus Swallowtail, Pelaus Schwalbenschwanz)

Papilio pelaus, also called Pelaus Swallowtail is a very common butterfly from Neotropic ecozone (South America). The first description was in 1775 by Fabricius. With a wingspan of 8.0 – 10.0 cm the Pelaus Swallowtail is a small member of the family PAPILIONIDAE. The butterfly is black with a small white band. 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 the Pelaus Swallowtail (Papilio pelaus). Papilio pelaus is a member of the family PAPILIONIDAE from Neotropic ecozone (South America).

Description

The forewings are black. In the middle of wing there is a small white band.
The underside is a copy of upside, but the white band is broader than.

The hind wings are black and have tails. The margin is ridged. At the margin there is a chain of little white spots. In back there are some little red spots.
The underside is a copy from upside, but there are a chain of red spots and a chain of diffuse yellowish spots at the margin.

The body is black.

Sex differences: ---

Distribution

The Pelaus Swallowtail (Papilio pelaus) is a butterfly of the Neotropic ecozone (South America). The distribution extend from the South of Mexico to Panama.

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

Larval food

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General information

The first description of this butterfly was in 1775 by Fabricius. There are only three subspecies.

Papilio pelaus atkinsi [Bates]
Papilio pelaus imerius [Godart, 1819]
Papilio pelaus puertoricoensis [Möhn, 1999]

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/)