Common Mormon (Papilio polytes)

OTHER NAMES: Common Mormon Butterfly

Latin Etymology: Papilio ("butterfly") polytes (?)

Adult male and female Common Mornon (subspecies P. p. polytes) at Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia - July 2016

Featured Subspecies: Papilio polytes polytes
Wingspan: 90-100mm
NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Not Yet Evaluated 

A large black coloured member of the Swallowtail family found throughout Southern Asia, the Common Mormon is a notable mimic of other species - specifically of the inedible species the Common Rose and Crimson Rose to prevent it's own predation.  It is a common species found in urban habitats.

Related Species: 
Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Papilionidae
Genus: Papilio
SUBSPECIES: P. p. alcindor, P. p. alphenor, P. p. javanus, P. p. ledebouria, P. p. liujidongi, P. p. mandane, P. p. messius, P. p. nicanor, P. p. nikobarus, P. p. pasikrates, P. p. perversus, P. p. polycritos, P. p. polytes, P. p. romulus, P. p. sotira, P. p. steffi, P. p. stichioides, P. p. theseus, P. p. timorensis, P. p. tucanus, P. p. vigellius

 - Sighting Locations -

MALAYSIA - Malay - ?

Common resident.

 - MALAYSIA/SINGAPORE 2016 TRIP: Seen regularly in Kuala Lumpur, though intermittently. 

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto .

Eastern Tiger Swallowtail (Papilio glaucus)

OTHER NAMES: N/A
Latin Etymology: Papilio ("butterfly") glaucus ("glaucous")

Adult male Eastern Tiger Swallotail (Papilio glaucus) at Minnesota, USA - July 2024

Featured Subspecies: ?
Wingspan: 7.9-14cm
NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Not Yet Evaluated 

A large and impressive member of the Swallowtails that is endemic to the USA, their host plants are usually trees including ash, cottonwood, magnolia and willows and is considered the most diverse feeding of the entire swallowtail family. As catepillars, they begin their life resembling bird droppings to deter avian predators, and also possesses the ability to expel foul smelling chemicals called terpenes.

Related Species:
Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Papilionidae
Genus: Papilio
SUBSPECIES: ?

 - Sighting Locations -

UNITED STATES 
Resident in the Eastern USA
 - CALIFORNIA 2022 TRIP: Seen in Minnesota and Illinois

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto

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Old World Swallowtail (Papilio machaeon)

OTHER NAMES: Swallowtail, Common Yellow Swallowtail
Latin Etymology: Papilio ("butterfly") machaeon (figure from Greek Myth)

Adult Old World Swallowtail (Papilio machaeon) at Writing-on-Stone, Alberta, Canada - July 2024

Featured Subspecies: Papilio machaeon bairdii*
Wingspan: 6.5-8.6cm
UK STATUS NOT EVALUATED / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

A widespread species that more or less circumnavigates the Northern Hemisphere with it's range. It is a very large butterfly, frequently one of the largest in it's range. The individual here is of the subspecies bairdii which is sometimes split off into a separate species with a range consisting of the Western United States, but it's recognition is limited. Generally, it's food plants are species such as wild carrot, wild angelica, fennel and hogweeds.

Related Species:
Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Papilionidae
Genus: Papilio
SUBSPECIES: P. m. aliaska, P. m. annae, P. m. archias, P.. m. asaticus, P. m. baijangensis, P. m. bairdii, P. m. birmanicus, P. m. britannicus, P. m. brucei, P. m. centralis, P. m chinensis, P. m. gorganus, P. m. hippocrates, P. m. hudsonianus, P. m. kamtschadalus, P. m. kiyonobu, P. m. kunkalaschano, P. m. ladakensis, P. m. lapponica, P. m. machaon, P. m machaon, P. m. mauretanica, P. m. maxima, P. m. melitensis, P. m. montanus, P. m. muetingi, P. m. neochinensis, P. m. oregonius, P. m. oreinus, P. m. orientis, P. m. pikei, P. m. sachalinensis, P. m. schapiroi, P. m. septentrionalis, P. m. sikkimensis, P. m. suroia, P. m. sylvina, P. m syriacus, P. m. taliensis, P. m. ussuriensis, P. m. verityi, P. m. weidenhofferi 

 - Sighting Locations -

CANADA - Found in much of Canada
  - CHICAGO TO ALASKA ROADTRIP 2024: - Seen in Alberta

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto

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Western Tiger Swallowtail (Papilio rutulus)

OTHER NAMES: N/A
Latin Etymology: Papilio ("butterfly") rutulus ("red headed")

Adult Western Tiger Swallowtail (Papilio rutulus) at San Francisco, California - September 2022

Featured Subspecies: ?
Weight: ?  /  Length: 5.5cm  /  Wingspan: 7-10 cm
NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Not Yet Evaluated 

A large and common swallowtail of the Western half of the USA and and small parts of Mexico and Canada. Their primary host plants are trees, in particular cottonwood, aspen, poplar, alder, ash and willow and as such they are often found in forest and parkland.

Related Species:
Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Papilionidae
Genus: Papilio
SUBSPECIES: none - monotypic 

 - Sighting Locations -

UNITED STATES 
Breeds in the West including Alaska, Winters in South, Resident in thin strip along Pacific Coast
 - CALIFORNIA 2022 TRIP: Seen at  San Francisco 

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto

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