Papilio alcmenor (Redbreast)

Papilio alcmenor, also called Redbreast is a butterfly from Australasia / Indomalaya ecozone (Australia). The first description was in 1864 by C. & R. Felder. The wingspan is about 12 – 13 cm. This butterfly is a member of the family PAPILIONIDAE. Papilio alcmenor is black. The female mimics Atrophaneura dasarada.
Photos for easy identification
Here you can see some photos of Papilio alcmenor (Redbreast) (male above / female below). Papilio alcmenor is a member of the family PAPILIONIDAE from Australasia / Indomalaya (Australia).
Description
The fore wings are dark-brown. The veins are black.
The underside of Papilio alcmenor is very similar to the upside. Next to the body there is a red spot.
The hind wings of Papilio alcmenor are black. The edge is wavy. At the outer edge there are some blue-white scales. At the inner edge there is a white-red eye-spot.
The underside is black. The inner edge of the wing is red and contains black stripes and spots. In the back part of the wing there is a red ring.
The body (abdomen) is black. The thorax is black. The head is black.
Sex differences: On the fore wings of the female there is a red spot next to the body. In the middle of the hind wings there is a white area with black veins. At the edge there are some red spots. The underside is very similar to the upside.
Distribution
Larval food
Rutaceae:
- Citrus sp.
General information
The first description of this butterfly was in 1864 by C. & R. Felder. There are three subspecies.
- Papilio alcmenor irene [Joicey & Talbot]
- Papilio alcmenor nausithous [Oberthür]
- Papilio alcmenor platenius [Fruhstorfer]
The female mimics Atrophaneura dasarada.
Macro photos
Protection provisions / Red List
- CITES: (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora):
-no entry- (as at 22.05.2009) - EU regulation on trading with species of wild Fauna and Flora
-no entry- (as at 07.07.2009) - IUCN Red List of threatened species:
-no entry- (as at 2009)
Similar and closely-related species
Scientific name
Papilio alcmenor C. & R. Felder 1864
Other names
Redbreast
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: ALCMENOR