Graphium
Encyclopedia
Genus
In biology, a genus is a low-level taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms, which is an example of definition by genus and differentia...
of mostly tropical swallowtail
Swallowtail butterfly
Swallowtail butterflies are large, colorful butterflies that form the family Papilionidae. There are over 550 species, and though the majority are tropical, members of the family are found on all continents except Antarctica...
butterflies
Butterfly
A butterfly is a mainly day-flying insect of the order Lepidoptera, which includes the butterflies and moths. Like other holometabolous insects, the butterfly's life cycle consists of four parts: egg, larva, pupa and adult. Most species are diurnal. Butterflies have large, often brightly coloured...
commonly known as swordtails, kite swallowtails, or ladies. Native to Eurasia
Eurasia
Eurasia is a continent or supercontinent comprising the traditional continents of Europe and Asia ; covering about 52,990,000 km2 or about 10.6% of the Earth's surface located primarily in the eastern and northern hemispheres...
, Africa
Africa
Africa is the world's second largest and second most populous continent, after Asia. At about 30.2 million km² including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of the Earth's total surface area and 20.4% of the total land area...
, and Oceania
Oceania
Oceania is a region centered on the islands of the tropical Pacific Ocean. Conceptions of what constitutes Oceania range from the coral atolls and volcanic islands of the South Pacific to the entire insular region between Asia and the Americas, including Australasia and the Malay Archipelago...
, the genus is represented by over 100 species
Species
In biology, a species is one of the basic units of biological classification and a taxonomic rank. A species is often defined as a group of organisms capable of interbreeding and producing fertile offspring. While in many cases this definition is adequate, more precise or differing measures are...
. Their coloration is as variable as the habitats they frequent; from rainforest
Rainforest
Rainforests are forests characterized by high rainfall, with definitions based on a minimum normal annual rainfall of 1750-2000 mm...
to savanna
Savanna
A savanna, or savannah, is a grassland ecosystem characterized by the trees being sufficiently small or widely spaced so that the canopy does not close. The open canopy allows sufficient light to reach the ground to support an unbroken herbaceous layer consisting primarily of C4 grasses.Some...
h. Some possess tails which may be long and swordlike, while others lack any hindwing extensions. Graphium species are often sighted at mud puddles.
The more colourful species are popular with collectors and are commonly seen mounted in frames for sale. Well-known species include the Tailed Jay (Graphium agamemnon); Common Bluebottle (G. sarpedon); and the Purple-spotted Swallowtail
Graphium weiskei
The Purple Spotted Swallowtail, Graphium weiskei, which is found only in the highlands of New Guinea, is a butterfly of the swallowtail family. It resembles the related Graphium stresemanni....
(G. weiskei). One species, G. idaeoides
Graphium idaeoides
Graphium idaeoides is a species of butterfly in the Papilionidae family. It is endemic to the Philippines.-Source:* Gimenez Dixon, M. 1996. . Downloaded on 31 July 2007....
, is notable for being a perfect mimic
Mimic
In evolutionary biology, mimicry is the similarity of one species to another which protects one or both. This similarity can be in appearance, behaviour, sound, scent and even location, with the mimics found in similar places to their models....
of the danainid
Milkweed butterfly
Milkweed butterflies are a subfamily, Danainae, in the family Nymphalidae, or brush-footed butterflies. They lay their eggs on various milkweeds on which their larvae feed...
Idea leuconoe
Idea leuconoe
The Paper Kite, Rice Paper, or Large Tree Nymph butterfly is known especially for its presence in butterfly greenhouses and live butterfly expositions...
. The genus Protographium
Protographium
Protographium is a genus of Palaearctic swallowtail butterflies in the subfamily Papilioninae.- Taxonomy :*Subgenus Unassigned**Protographium leosthenes *Subgenus Neographium Möhn, 2002**The philolaus species-group...
is closely related to Graphium.
Species
Listed alphabetically.- Graphium abri Smith & Vane-Wright, 2001
- Graphium agamedes (Westwood, 1842) – Westwood's White-lady or Glassy Graphium
- Graphium agamemnonGraphium agamemnonThe Tailed Jay is a predominantly green and black tropical butterfly that belongs to the swallowtail family. The butterfly is also called Green-spotted Triangle, Tailed Green Jay, or the Green Triangle. It is a common, nonthreatened species native to India, Sri Lanka through Southeast Asia and...
(Linnaeus, 1758) – Tailed Jay or Green-spotted Triangle - Graphium agetes (WestwoodJohn Obadiah WestwoodJohn Obadiah Westwood was an English entomologist and archaeologist also noted for his artistic talents.Born in Sheffield, he studied to be a lawyer but abandoned that for his scientific interests....
, 1841) – Fourbar Swordtail - Graphium angolanusGraphium angolanusThe Angola White Lady is a species of butterfly in the Papilionidae family, found in Subsaharan Africa.The wingspan is 65–70 mm in males and 70–75 mm in females...
(Goeze, 1779) – Angola White Lady (Swordtail) - Graphium antheusGraphium antheusThe Larger Striped Swordtail is a species of butterfly in the Papilionidae family, found in tropical Africa.The wingspan is 65–70 mm in males and 70–75 mm in females...
(Cramer, [1779]) – Large Striped Swordtail - Graphium antiphatesGraphium antiphatesFive-bar Swordtail Graphium antiphates is a species of papilionid butterfly found in South Asia.-Description:The ground colour of the upperside of both males and females is white...
(Cramer, [1775]) – Fivebar Swordtail - Graphium aristeus (Stoll, [1780]) – Chain Swordtail
- Graphium aryclesGraphium aryclesThe Spotted Jay , a species of butterfly, is scarce and likely to be found in the extreme North East of India. It is not known to be threatened but the nominate subspecies is protected by law in India.-See also:*Papilionidae...
(Boisduval, 1836) – Spotted Jay - Graphium aurivilliusiGraphium aurivilliusiGraphium aurivilliusi is a species of butterfly in the Papilionidae family. It is endemic to the Democratic Republic of the Congo.-Source:* Gimenez Dixon, M. 1996. . Downloaded on 31 July 2007....
(Seeldrayers, 1896) - Graphium bathycles (Zinken, 1831) – Veined Jay
- Graphium biokoensis Gauthier, 1984
- Graphium chironGraphium chironThe Veined Jay , a species of butterfly, is found in Assam and other parts of North-East India and Southeast Asia.-Description:...
ides (Honrath, 1884) - Graphium cloanthusGraphium cloanthusThe Glassy Bluebottle is a common, non-threatened tropical butterfly.-Description:Upperside, fore wing: costal margin up to a line through the anterior half of the cell to the apex of the wing and the terminal margin broadly black; the medial portion of the wing pale hyaline greenish-yellow...
(Westwood, 1841) – Glassy Bluebottle - Graphium codrusGraphium codrusGraphium codrus, which is found in the Philippines, Celebes and Solomon Islands is a butterfly of the Swallowtails, family....
(Cramer, [1777]) - Graphium colonnaGraphium colonnaThe Black Swordtail or Mamba Swordtail is a species of butterfly in the Papilionidae family, found in Africa....
(Ward, 1873) – Black Swordtail or Mamba Swordtail - Graphium delessertiiGraphium delessertiiThe Malayan Zebra is a butterfly of the Papilionidae family. It is found in south-east Asia.-Subspecies:*Graphium delessertii delessertii...
(Guérin-Méneville, 1839) – Malayan Zebra - Graphium dosonGraphium dosonThe Common Jay is a black, tropical papilionid butterfly with pale blue semi-transparent central wing bands that are formed by large spots. There is a marginal series of smaller spots. The underside of wings is brown with markings similar to upperside but whitish in color...
(C. & R. Felder, 1864) – Common Jay - Graphium encelades (Boisduval, 1836).
- Graphium eurous (Leech, [1893]) – Sixbar Swordtail
- Graphium eurypylus (Linnaeus, 1758) – Great Jay or Pale Green Triangle
- Graphium evemonGraphium evemonThe Lesser Jay , also called the Pale Green Triangle, is a species of tropical butterfly found in North-East India.-References:...
(Boisduval, 1836) – Lesser Jay - Graphium glycerion (Gray, 1831) – Spectacle Swordtail
- Graphium idaeoidesGraphium idaeoidesGraphium idaeoides is a species of butterfly in the Papilionidae family. It is endemic to the Philippines.-Source:* Gimenez Dixon, M. 1996. . Downloaded on 31 July 2007....
(Hewitson, 1853) - Graphium illyrisGraphium illyrisGraphium illyris is a forest butterfly of the Swallowtail family, native to the Afrotropic ecozone .-Subspecies:*G. i. illyris Sierra Leone, Liberia, Ivory Coast, C.Ghana...
(Hewitson, 1872) - Graphium kigoma Carcasson, 1964
- Graphium kosii Müller, 1999
- Graphium leonidasGraphium leonidasThe Veined Swordtail, Veined Swallowtail, or Common Graphium is a species of butterfly in the Papilionidae family, found in Subsaharan Africa.The wingspan is 75–80 mm in males and 75–85 mm in females...
(Fabricius, 1793) – Veined Swordtail, Veined Swallowtail, or Common Graphium - Graphium levassoriGraphium levassoriGraphium levassori is a species of butterfly in the Papilionidae family. It is endemic to Comoros.-Source:* Gimenez Dixon, M. 1996. . Downloaded on 31 July 2007....
OberthürCharles OberthürCharles Oberthür was a French entomologist specializing in Lepidoptera. He was the son of François-Charles Oberthür.Oberthür named 42 new genera of moths -Works:...
, 1890 - Graphium macfarlaneiGraphium macfarlaneiThe Green Triangle Butterfly or Green Triangle is a butterfly of the Papilionidae family. It is found along the northern Gulf and north-eastern coast of Queensland, Australia, as well as on the Moluccas, New Guinea, Admiralty Islands and New Britain.The wingspan is about 70 mm.The larvae feed on...
(Butler, 1877) - Graphium macleayanusGraphium macleayanusThe Macleay's Swallowtail is a butterfly belonging to the family Papilionidae. The species was named after Alexander Macleay.-Taxonomy:...
(Leach, 1814) – Macleay's Swallowtail - Graphium megaeraGraphium megaeraGraphium megaera is a species of butterfly in the Papilionidae family. It is endemic to the Philippines.-Source:* Gimenez Dixon, M. 1996. . Downloaded on 31 July 2007....
(StaudingerOtto StaudingerOtto Staudinger was a German entomologist and a natural history dealer considered one of the largest in the world specialising in the collection and sale of insects to museums, scientific institutions, and individuals....
, 1888) - Graphium megarus (Westwood, 1844) – Spotted Zebra
- Graphium mendanaGraphium mendanaGraphium mendana is a species of butterfly in the Papilionidae family. It is found in Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Islands.-Source:* Gimenez Dixon, M. 1996. . Downloaded on 31 July 2007....
(GodmanFrederick DuCane GodmanFrederick DuCane Godman D.C.L., F.R.S., F.L.S., F.G.S., F.R.G.S., F.E.S., F.Z.S., M.R.I., F.R.H.S., M.B.O.U. was an English lepidopterist, entomologist and ornithologist....
& Salvin, 1888) - Graphium moraniaGraphium moraniaThe White Lady or Small White-lady Swordtail is a species of butterfly in the Papilionidae family, found in southern Africa.The wingspan is 50–55 mm in males and 55–60 mm in females...
(Angas, 1849) – White Lady (Swallowtail) or Small White-lady Swordtail - Graphium nomiusGraphium nomiusSpot Swordtail Graphium nomius is a beautiful butterfly found in South and Southeast Asia that belongs to the Swallowtail family. One of the grandest sights is a host of Spot Swordtails mud-puddling or swarming around a flowering forest tree....
(Esper, 1799) – Spot Swordtail - Graphium olbrechtsi Berger, 1950
- Graphium policenesGraphium policenesThe Common Swordtail or Small Striped Swordtail is a species of butterfly in the Papilionidae family, found in tropical Africa.The wingspan is 55–60 mm in males and 60–65 mm in females...
(Cramer, [1775]) – Small Striped Swortail or Common Swordtail - Graphium polistratus (Grose-Smith, 1889) – Dancing Swordtail
- Graphium porthaonGraphium porthaonThe Coastal Swordtail, Cream-striped Swordtail or Swordtail Dark Swordtail is a species of butterfly in the Papilionidae family, found in tropical western Africa....
(Hewitson, 1865) – Coastal Swordtail, Cream-striped Swordtail, or Dark swordtail - Graphium proclesGraphium proclesGraphium procles is a species of butterfly in the Papilionidae family. It is endemic to Malaysia.-Reference:* Gimenez Dixon, M. 1996. . Downloaded on 31 July 2007....
(Grose-Smith, 1887) - Graphium ridleyanus (White, 1843) - Acraea Swordtail
- Graphium rileyi Berger, 1950 - Riley's Graphium
- Graphium sandawanum Yamamoto, 1977
- Graphium sarpedonGraphium sarpedonGraphium sarpedon, the common bluebottle or blue triangle , is a species of swallowtail butterfly found in South and Southeast Asia, as well as parts of Australia. There are approximately 15 subspecies with differing geographical distributions.-Description:Upperside opaque black...
(Linnaeus, 1758) – Common Bluebottle or Blue Triangle - Graphium stresemanniGraphium stresemanniGraphium stresemanni is a vulnerable species of butterfly in the Papilionidae family. It is endemic to the Indonesian island of Seram. It resembles the related Graphium weiskei, a more common species from New Guinea.-Source:...
(RothschildWalter Rothschild, 2nd Baron RothschildLionel Walter Rothschild, 2nd Baron Rothschild, Baron de Rothschild FRS , a scion of the Rothschild family, was a British banker, politician, and zoologist.-Biography:...
, 1916) - Graphium tynderaeus (Fabricius, 1793) – Electric Green Swordtail or Green-spotted Swallowtail
- Graphium weiskeiGraphium weiskeiThe Purple Spotted Swallowtail, Graphium weiskei, which is found only in the highlands of New Guinea, is a butterfly of the swallowtail family. It resembles the related Graphium stresemanni....
(Ribbe, 1900) – Purple Spotted Swallowtail - Graphium xenocles (Doubleday, 1842) – Great Zebra