Citrus Swallowtail

Description:

Papilio demodocus, also known as the c It is a pest species, the caterpillar feeding on citrus trees. Papilio demodocus, also called Citrus Butterfly, Citrus swallowtail, Orange Dog or Christmas Butterfly is a large, very common swallowtail butterfly common to sub-Saharan Africa. The first description was in 1798 by Esper. The Citrus Butterfly is a member of the family PAPILIONIDAE. The forewings are black. At the margin there are two chains of little yellow spots. In the middle of wing there is a chain of big yellow spots. At the wing leading edge there are some big yellow spots. Nearby the body there is a yellow pollinate area. The underside is a copy of upside, but there are some yellow lines nearby the body. The hind wings are black and have no tails. The margin is ridged. At the margin there are two chains of little yellow spots. In the middle of wing there is a broad yellow band, which contains one big black and blue eye. In back there is a blue, black and red eye. The underside is copy of upside, but there is an extra chain of blue and brown spots. Furthermore there is a big black blue and brown spot in the middle of wing and some yellow lines nearby the body. Citrus swallowtails pass through approximately three generations per year. Eggs are laid singly on citrus tree leaves. Adult butterflies have black and yellow markings with red and blue eyespots. Female butterflies tend to be larger than males.

Habitat:

The Citrus Butterfly (Papilio demodocus) is a butterfly of the Afrotropic ecozone (Africa). The distribution is extend from Senegal, Somalia, Yemen and Oman to South Africa.

Notes:

Spotted in a tropical butterfly garden in S.E. France, on the French/Spanish border.