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:

Calodendrum
Citrus
Clausena
Teclea nobilis
Teclea simplicifolia
Teclea villosa
Toddalia
Zanthoxylum

General information

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

Papilio phorcas ansorgei [Rothschild, 1898]
Papilio phorcas congoanus [Rothschild, 1898]
Papilio phorcas nyikanus [Rothschild & Jordan]
Papilio phorcas ruscoei [Krüger, 1927]
Papilio phorcas sudanicola [Storace]
Papilio phorcas tenuifasciatus [Keilland, 1990]

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/)