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 .

Scarce Swallowtail (Iphiclides podalirius)

OTHER NAMES: Sail Swallowtail, Pear-tree Swallowtail

Latin Etymology: Iphiclides (?) podalirius ("a healer")

  Adult Scarce Swallowtail (Iphiclides podalirius) at Madrid, Spain - June 2015

Featured Subspecies: N/A 
Length: ?  /  Wingspan: 76-86mm
NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Data Deficient

A large distinctive species, only likely to be confused with the Common Swallowtail, it is widespread in Spain, though not necessarily numerous locally.  It can be found in habitats that would preclude either of the UK's large species due to being highly disturbed - this particular individual was sighted right in the heart of Madrid.  As such, the English name is fairly misleading, it's certainly not scarce within its own range.  It is however decreasing slightly as its food-plant of blackthorn is cleared.

Related Species:
Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Papilionidae
Genus: Iphiclides
SUBSPECIES: None - monotypic

- Sighting Locations -

SPAIN - Spanish - Chupa Leche ("Suck Milk")

Locally abundant resident.

 - MADRID 2015 TRIP: Seen in several parks in Madrid.

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

Blue Triangle (Graphium sarpedon)

OTHER NAMES: Common Bluebottle

Latin Etymology: Graphium ("stylus") sarpedon (after a warrior in the Trojan War)

Adult Blue Triangle (subspecies G. s. nipponum) at Osaka Castle Grounds, Japan - July 2013

Featured Subspecies: Graphium sarpedon nipponum
Length: 27mm  /  Wingspan: 55-75mm
NOT EVALUATED IN UK / IUCN Red List: Not Yet Evaluated

The Blue Triangle (also known as the Common Bluebottle, I'm not using that name as to me the name Bluebottle is associated with flies) is a huge butterfly, with the only UK species to compare being the Purple Emperor and the Swallowtail, unlike those species however, this species is widely spread throughout its range, found even in parks in the middle of major cities like Osaka and Kyoto.  This species has a huge range down the Asia-Australasia side of the pacific.

Related Species:
Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Papilionidae
Genus: Graphium
SUBSPECIES: G. s. sarpedon, G. s. teredon, G. s. semifasciatus, G. s. connectens, G. s. nipponum, G. s. messogis, G. s. islander, G. s. wetterensis, G. s. choredon, G. s. luctatius, G. s. isander

- Sighting Locations -

JAPAN - Japanese - アオスジアゲハ  /  Aosujiageha ("Aozuke Swallowtail")

Common resident seen in Summer

 - KYOTO/OSAKA 2013 TRIP: Common in Osaka and Kyoto 

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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