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Emerald Swallowtail

Papilio palinurus

Description:

Emerald Swallowtail has a wingspan reaching about 3.1–3.9 in. The dorsal sides of the wings are covered by a powder of green scales and the background vary from dark greenish to black, with broad bright emerald green metallic bands. The undersides are black with orange, white and blue spots along the edges of hind wings, that show extended tails at the end. The flight of these butterflies is swift and quite fast. Caterpillars feed on plants of the rue or citrus family. The iridescent green sheen of the bands of this butterfly is not produced by pigments, but is structural coloration produced by the microstructure of the wing scales. They refract the light and give rise to blue and yellow visible reflections, producing the perception of green colour when additively mixed.

Habitat:

the butterfly place 120 Tyngsboro road, Westford MA

Notes:

Amazing colors even for most butterflies, my favorite i've seen!

1 Species ID Suggestions

Green-banded Peacock
Papilio palinurus Papilio palinurus


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13 Comments

keithp2012
keithp2012 10 years ago

I wasn't sure because although its captive in the US it is found within the range of your mission, so you understand why I thought it was ok . I put it in global butterfly mission only one I could find.

AgnesAdiqueTalavera
AgnesAdiqueTalavera 10 years ago

Thank you Keith. As much as we would love to have this spotting included, I regret that it is a Local Mission which could only include spottings anywhere inside the Philippines. That is a limitation we have to comply to. Global Missions, on the other hand, are the ones without this restriction. Regards.

keithp2012
keithp2012 10 years ago

It was intentional as this is one area its native to

AgnesAdiqueTalavera
AgnesAdiqueTalavera 10 years ago

Hello Keith. This is a beautiful swallowtail, although you may have unintentionally included this in the "Butterflies in the Philippines" mission. :)

keithp2012
keithp2012 10 years ago

thank you for the help, I listed it under its more common name, Emerald Swallowtail.

Adarsha B S
Adarsha B S 10 years ago

Beautiful :)

Caleb Steindel
Caleb Steindel 10 years ago

right jemma
and beautiful photo!

dotun55
dotun55 10 years ago

Very nice!

You have the name, Emerald Swallowtail or Emerald Peacock, and scientific name, Papilio palinurus, now you can edit it for all of us.Thank you so much, keithp2012.

For sure it "owns" the name: Emerald Swallowtail or Emerald Peacock. Did you find it in Westford, Massachusetts, USA?

WOW!! Lovely color!! Thank you for sharing, keithp2012.

KARLAOSORIO
KARLAOSORIO 10 years ago

dude hat's a great photo of the green banded peacock butterfly.They been known for there wings.

ira080808
ira080808 10 years ago

beautiful! :)

keithp2012
Spotted by
keithp2012

Westford, Massachusetts, USA

Spotted on Jul 6, 2013
Submitted on Jul 6, 2013

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