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Orchard Swallowtail Butterfly (female)

Papilio aegeus

Description:

Both male and female have black forewings with a white stripe, though there is more white overall on the female forewing. The hindwing is again black, and there is a white swath through the middle. Here the markings differ in that the female has chains of red to orange and blue crescents toward the edge. The markings on the underside are similar to those on top. The body is black.[2] The wingspan is about 140 millimetres (5.5 in) in females and 120 millimetres (4.7 in) in males,[3][4][5] making it rather large overall and the largest butterfly commonly seen in at least part of its range (from wikipedia)

Habitat:

Have been seeing this butterfly again in my yard over the last month or so. I have a lemon tree, but have never seen signs of damage on it from caterpillars. So don't think they have been laying eggs on it.

Notes:

This is my second posting of this species. This time this particular butterfly seemed to want to rest on several plants in my yard. Allowing me to get some good shots of it

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2 Comments

JamesPriest2
JamesPriest2 7 years ago

Thank you Felix :-)

Felix Fleck
Felix Fleck 7 years ago

Nice one James, she's a beauty.

JamesPriest2
Spotted by
JamesPriest2

Saint Marys, New South Wales, Australia

Spotted on Nov 9, 2016
Submitted on Nov 10, 2016

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