Papilio mechowianus

Papilio mechowianus is a simple butterfly from Afrotropic ecozone (Africa). The first description was in 1885 by Dewitz. The wingspan is about 8.0 – 10.0 cm. Papilio mechowianus is a member of the family PAPILIONIDAE. The butterfly is black with broad white bands on wings. Hind wings have no tails.

Photos for easy identification

Photo © by Naturhistorisches Museum Wien; Fotograf Thomas Neubauer

Photo © by Naturhistorisches Museum Wien; Fotograf Thomas Neubauer

These are nice photos of Papilio mechowianus. Papilio mechowianus 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 white band. At the margin there is a chain of little white spots.
The underside is a copy of upside, but the ground is dark brown and the veins are black.
The hind wings are black and have no tails. The margin is ridged. At the margin there is a chain of white spots. In the middle of wing there is a broad white band.
The underside is copy of upside, but the ground is dark brown and the veins are black.

The body is black.

Sex differences: ---

Distribution

Papilio mechowianus is a butterfly of the Afrotropic ecozone (Africa). The distribution is extend from Angola to Kamerun and Sudan.

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

Larval food

Piperaceae:

Piper

General information

The first description of this butterfly was in 1885 by Dewitz. There are no subspecies.

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/)