

Papilio polymnestor (Blue Mormon, Blauer Pfau)

Papilio polymnestor, also called Blue Mormon is a very impressive butterfly from Australasia / Indomalaya ecozone (Australia). The first description was in 1775 by Cramer. The wingspan is about 12.0 – 14.0 cm. The Blue Mormon is a member of the family PAPILIONIDAE. The butterfly is black with great blue areas on wing. Hind wings have no tails.
Photos for easy identification
These are nice photos of Papilio polymnestor (Blue Mormon, Blauer Pfau) (male). Papilio polymnestor is a member of the family PAPILIONIDAE from Australasia / Indomalaya ecozone (Australia).
Description
The forewings are black. In the middle of wing there is a light blue area, which is divided by black veins or stripes.
The underside is black. Next to the margin there is a yellowish band which is divided by many black veins or stripes. Nearby the body there is a red area.
The hind wings are light blue and have no tails. The margin is ridged and black. Nearby the body there is a black area. In the middle of wing there is a chain of black spots. Next to the margin there is also a chain of black spots.
The underside is nearly a copy of upside, but the blue is change to yellow. The black area around the body is broader than upside. Nearby the body there is a red area.
The body is black.
Sex differences: Females has not the nice light blue. They are bluish and grey.
Macro photos
Here you can see some macro photos of Papilio polymnestor.
Distribution
Larval food
Rutaceae:
- Atalantia
- Citrus maxima
- Paramignya andamanica
- Murraya koenigii
Guttiferae:
- Garcinia xanthochymus
Rubiaceae:
- Gardenia xanthochymus
General information
The first description of this butterfly was in 1775 by Cramer . There is only one subspecies.
- Papilio polymnestor parinda [Moore]
Protection provisions / Red List
- CITES: (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora):
-no entry- (as at 14.06.2006) - 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/)
Similar and closely-related species
Scientific name
Papilio polymnestor Cramer 1775
Synonym
Blue Mormon
Blauer Mormon
Classification / Taxonomy / Family tree
- Kingdom: ANIMALIA
- Phylum: ARTHROPODA
- Class: INSECTA
- Order: LEPIDOPTERA
- Suborder: DITRYSIA
- Superfamily: PAPILIONOIDEA
- Family: PAPILIONIDAE
- Subfamily: PAPILIONINAE
- Tribe: PAPILIONINI
- Genus: PAPILIO
- Specific name: POLYMNESTOR