Lime Butterfly

Lime Butterfly

Papilio demoleus Linnaeus PAPILIONIDAE

Adult

Upperside black with yellow spots. HW without a tail and with a brick red oval spot anteriorly bordered with blue lunule at the inner margin and a bluish spot near the costal margin. Yellow wavy markings at the base of both wings. Underside FW almost black with 7 yellow streaks at the base and a few orange spots. HW with blue-bordered orange spots in the middle. Markings become deep orange with age. Wingspan 80-100mm.

Also known as the Lemon Butterfly, Citrus Butterfly, Lime Swallowtail and Chequered Swallowtail. The most common butterfly throughout the country, especially in the plains than in wooded regions and hills. Seen on the wings throughout the year in quick and strong flight. Aggregates in hundreds in mud puddles with closed wings to drink water. Visits flowers of all citrus, radish, curry leaf etc. regular migrant during October-february in south India and sri lanka.

Larva

Young larva dark brown with white markings, resembling bird droppings. Grown up larva pale yellowish green with dull yellowish brown head having a pink Y shaped osmeterium. Body with white, brown and grey lateral markings/stripes.

Considered as a minor pest of mature citrus trees but severe attacks quite common in nurseries and small trees. Feeds on lemon, ornage, lime, bael, east Indian satinwood tree, wood-apple, curry leaf, garden rue, ber, lime berry, babchi, malay glycosmis, Acronychia pedunculata, ruta chalepensis etc.

Distribution

India, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Iran, Iraq, Arabia, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, the Philippines, South China, Taiwan, Papua New Guinea and Northern Australia.