Papilio phorcas (Green Banded Swallowtail)

Papilio phorcas, also called Green Banded Swallowtail  is a simple butterfly from Afrotropic ecozone (Africa). The first description was in 1775 by Cramer. With a wingspan of 9.0 – 10.0 cm the Green Banded Swallowtail is a small member of the family PAPILIONIDAE. The butterfly is black with a light green 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 Papilio phorcas (Green Banded Swallowtail). Papilio phorcas is a member of the family PAPILIONIDAE from Afrotropic ecozone (Africa).


Description

The forewings are black. In the middle of wing there is a broad green band. At the pinion there is a little green spot.
The underside is a copy from upside, but the ground is dark brown.

The hind wings are black and have tails. The margin is ridged. At the margin there is a chain of little diffuse white spots. Nearby the body there is a big green area.
The underside is a copy from upside, but the ground is dark brown. There are two whitish spots on tail.

The body is dark brown.

Sex differences: None.


Macro photographs

Photo © by Thomas Neubauer; 26.08.2006, macro photograph of Papilio phorcas (upside)
Photo © by Thomas Neubauer; 26.08.2006, macro photograph of Papilio phorcas (upside)
Photo © by Thomas Neubauer; 26.08.2006, macro photograph of Papilio phorcas (upside)
Photo © by Thomas Neubauer; 26.08.2006, macro photograph of Papilio phorcas (underside)
Photo © by Thomas Neubauer; 26.08.2006, macro photograph of Papilio phorcas (underside)
Photo © by Thomas Neubauer; 26.08.2006, macro photograph of Papilio phorcas (underside)

Here you can see some macro photographs of  Papilio phorcas.


Distribution

The Green Spotted Swallowtail (Papilio phorcas) is a butterfly of the Afrotropic ecozone (Africa). The distribution extend from Liberia to Somalia and from Kongo to Angola, Zambia and Mozambique.


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

Larval food

Rutaceae:

General information

The first description of this butterfly was in 1775 by Cramer. There are some subspecies.

Protection provisions / Red List

Similar and closely-related species

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Scientific name

Papilio phorcas Cramer 1775


Synonym

 Green Banded Swallowtail
 Grün gestreifter Schwalbenschwanz


Classification / Taxonomy / Family tree

To family tree (Genus: PAPILIO)...  


Ecozone

AFROTROPIC (Africa)

 

To the top

Back to family Papilionidae from AFROTROPIC (AFRICA)

 

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