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Papilio thuraui

Papilio thuraui is a species of swallowtail butterfly from the genus Papilio that is found in Tanzania, Malawi, Zambia and the Republic of the Congo.

Description

Blue median band absent and a complete series of blue submarginal spots in both wings. Both wings above black-brown without median band, but with blue submarginal spots and the forewing also in the middle between the apex of the cell and the distal margin with three small blue spots in cellules 3, 4 and 6; forewing beneath with four large yellowish submarginal spots in cellules 1 b—4. — German East Africa: Ubena. External images

Original description

Subspecies

  • P. t. thuraui (southern Tanzania, northern Malawi)
  • P. t. cyclopis <small>Rothschild & Jordan, 1903</small> . (Malawi, Zambia)
  • P. t. occidua <small>Storace, 1951</small> (Republic of the Congo, Malawi, north-eastern Zambia)
  • P. t. heathi <small>(Hancock, 1984) </small> (Malawi)
  • P. t. ngorongoro <small>(Hancock, 1984)</small> (northern Tanzania)
  • P. t. viphya <small>(Hancock, 1984)</small> (Malawi)

Biology

The larvae feed on Toddalia asiatica.

Taxonomy

Papilio thuraui belongs to a clade called the nireus species group with 15 members. The pattern is black with green or blue bands and spots. The butterflies, although called swallowtails, lack tails with the exception of Papilio charopus and Papilio hornimani. The clade members are:

Biogeographic realm

This species is located in the Afrotropical realm.

See also

References

  • Carcasson, R.H. (1960). The Swallowtail Butterflies of East Africa (Lepidoptera, Papilionidae). Journal of the East Africa Natural History Society pdf Key to East Africa members of the species group, diagnostic and other notes and figures. (Permission to host granted by The East Africa Natural History Society)

External links