Template:Short description {{#invoke:other uses|otheruses}} Template:Automatic taxobox

Papilio is a genus in the swallowtail butterfly family, Papilionidae, as well as the only representative of the tribe Papilionini. The word papilio is Latin for butterfly.<ref>Fabales. (2009) In Encyclopædia Britannica. Retrieved 8 September 2009, from Encyclopædia Britannica Online: [1]</ref>

It includes the common yellow swallowtail (Papilio machaon), which is widespread in the Northern Hemisphere and the type species of the genus, as well as a number of other well-known North American species such as the western tiger swallowtail (Papilio rutulus). Familiar species elsewhere in the world include the Mormons (Papilio polytes, Papilio polymnestor, Papilio memnon, and Papilio deiphobus) in Asia, the orchard and Ulysses swallowtails in Australia (Papilio aegeus, Papilio ulysses, respectively) and the citrus swallowtail of Africa (Papilio demodocus).

Older classifications of the swallowtails tended to use many rather small genera. More recent classifications have been more conservative, and as a result a number of former genera are now absorbed within Papilio, such as Achillides, Eleppone, Druryia, Heraclides (giant swallowtails), Menelaides, Princeps, Pterourus (tiger swallowtails), and Sinoprinceps. The genus as recognized by modern systems has about 200 members. The genus Chilasa is regarded as a subgenus of Papilio by some workers, as are the baggy-tailed swallowtails (Agehana), although the latter taxon is usually considered a subgenus of Chilasa.

Many of the larvae resemble bird droppings during a development stage. Adults are edible to birds and some species are mimics.<ref name="Papilionini">The Butterflies of North America, James A. Scott, Template:ISBN, 1986</ref>

EcologyEdit

In their larval form, members of Papilio typically feed upon plants of Rutaceae including common ornamental and agriculturally important species such as Citrus species, Murraya species, Choisya species and Calodendrum species. Caterpillars sequester terpenoids from their diet to produce a foul smelling oil used in defence.

SpeciesEdit

Listed alphabetically within groups.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
subgenus: Papilio Linnaeus, 1758

species group: machaon
File:Anise swallowtail and European paper wasp.webm
A European paper wasp interacts with a anise swallowtail caterpillar which uses its osmeterium in defense. Most scenes are repeated in closeup at one-fourth speed.

subgenus: Princeps Hübner, [1807]

species group: antimachus
species group: zalmoxis
species group: nireus
species group: cynorta
species group: dardanus
species group: zenobia
species group: demodocus
species group: echerioides
species group: oribazus
species group: hesperus
species group: menestheus
species group: incertae sedis
species group: noblei
species group: demolion
species group: anactus
species group: aegeus
species group: godeffroyi
species group: polytes
species group: castor
species group: fuscus
species group: helenus
species group: memnon
species group: protenor
species group: bootes

subgenus: Chilasa Moore, [1881]

species group: agestor
species group: clytia
species group: veiovis
species group: laglaizei
species group: unnamed

subgenus: Achillides Hübner, [1819]

species group: paris
File:Papilio buddha.JPG
Malabar banded peacock (Papilio buddha)
species group: palinurus
species group: unnamed
species group: ulysses

subgenus: Heraclides Hübner, [1819]

species group: anchisiades
species group: thoas
species group: torquatus
species group: unnamed

subgenus: Pterourus Scopoli, 1777

species group: troilus
species group: glaucus
species group: zagreus
species group: scamander
species group: homerus

subgenus: Sinoprinceps Hancock, 1983

species group: xuthus Hancock, 1983
  • Papilio xuthus Linnaeus, 1767 – Asian, Xuthus, or Chinese yellow swallowtail

Former speciesEdit

Many species originally described in the genus Papilio have now been reclassified. For a list of selected former species see List of former species in the genus Papilio.

ReferencesEdit

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External linksEdit

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