Graphium policenes

Graphium policenes, the common swordtail or small striped swordtail, is a species of butterfly in the family Papilionidae (swallowtails). It is found in tropical Africa.[1][2]

Small striped swordtail
Dorsal side
Ventral side
both in Bobiri Forest, Ghana
Scientific classification
Kingdom:
Animalia
Phylum:
Arthropoda
Class:
Insecta
Order:
Lepidoptera
Family:
Papilionidae
Genus:
Graphium
Species:
G. policenes
Binomial name
Graphium policenes
(Cramer, [1775])
Subspecies

See text

Synonyms
  • Papilio policenes Cramer, 1775
  • Papilio pompilius Herbst, 1788
  • Papilio agapenor Fabricius, 1793
  • Papilio scipio Palisot de Beauvois, 1805
  • Papilio polixenus Godart, 1819
  • Papilio policenes laurentia Le Cerf, 1924
  • Papilio (Cosmodesmus) policenes policenes f. guineensis Dufrane, 1946
  • Graphium policenes f. coussementi Berger, 1960

The wingspan is 55–60 mm in males and 60–65 mm in females. The species has continuous broods during warmer months.[2]

The larva feed on Uvaria caffra, Artabotrys monteiroae, Uvaria bukobensis, Uvara chamae, Landolphia buchannani, Landolphia ugandensis, Polyalthia species, Annona reticulata, Annona senegalensis, Annona squamosa, and Monanthotaxis caffra.[1][2]

Subspecies
  • Graphium policenes policenes (Sub-Saharan Africa)
  • Graphium policenes telloi Hecq, 1999 (Nigeria, northern Cameroon, Central African Republic, southern Sudan)

References
  1. Graphium, funet.fi
  2. Woodhall, Steve (2005). Field Guide to Butterflies of South Africa. Cape Town, South Africa: Struik. ISBN 978-1-86872-724-7.
  • 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)


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