Short-tailed Swallowtail - Hodges#4163
Papilio brevicauda
This record describes Papilio brevicauda (species). Recorded family: Papilionidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Adult: wings rounded, black, crossed by double row of yellow spots, often with an orange wash; hindwing has red-orange eye-spot with black center; tails generally quite short Larva: early instars brown with white saddle, resembling a bird dropping; later instars have green-and-black bands with yellow dots in the black, appearing paler than most P. polyxenes larvae Molecular studies imply that P. brevicauda might be a subspecies of P. machaon .
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Papilionoidea
- Family
- Papilionidae (Swallowtails, Parnassians)
- Subfamily
- Papilioninae
- Tribe
- Papilionini
- Genus
- Papilio
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
gardens near larval foodplants; coastal areas along grassy clifftops and rocky beaches; inland meadows and mountainous areas close to the treeline
Geographic Range
maritime provinces of Canada: Newfoundland, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, and eastern Quebec along southern shore of the Gulf of St. Lawrence
Seasonal Activity
adults fly from mid-June to end of July
Diet and Behavior
Diet: larvae feed on cow-parsnip ( Heracleum spp.), Angelica ( Angelica atropurpurea ), and Scotch Lovage ( Ligusticum scoticum )
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Papilio brevicauda. Species-specific details appear above.
Group overview
Lepidoptera includes approximately 180,000 described species of butterflies and moths. Moths outnumber butterflies roughly 10:1. The monarch butterfly's eastern population has declined by more than 80% since the mid-1990s, and the western population by over 95% since the 1980s. The IUCN lists the migratory monarch as Vulnerable.
Ecological role of the group
Butterflies and moths are essential indicators of ecosystem health. As caterpillars, they are a primary food source for birds - a single nest of blue tit chicks requires ~10,000 caterpillars. Adult moths pollinate many night-blooming plants.
Economic and practical significance of the group
Lepidoptera are critical pollinators. In Europe, grassland butterfly species have declined by almost 50% since the early 1990s. In the UK, three-quarters of butterflies are in decline. In the U.S., five butterfly species have gone extinct since 1950, with 29 listed as endangered.
Recorded sources for this group: IUCN Red List, Xerces Society, USFWS, PNAS, WWF. Imported estimates may describe particular regions or reporting periods.
Photos of Short-tailed Swallowtail - Hodges#4163 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Robin McLeod; Additional contributions by Steve Nanz , David Ferguson
Frequently Asked Questions About Short-tailed Swallowtail - Hodges#4163
What is Short-tailed Swallowtail - Hodges#4163?
Short-tailed Swallowtail - Hodges#4163 (Papilio brevicauda) is a species in the family Papilionidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Short-tailed Swallowtail - Hodges#4163?
wingspan 57-73 mm
How do you identify Short-tailed Swallowtail - Hodges#4163?
Adult: wings rounded, black, crossed by double row of yellow spots, often with an orange wash; hindwing has red-orange eye-spot with black center; tails generally quite short Larva: early instars brown with white saddle, resembling a bird dropping; later instars have green-and-black bands with yellow dots in the black, appearing paler than most P. polyxenes larvae
Where is Short-tailed Swallowtail - Hodges#4163 found?
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Habitat | gardens near larval foodplants; coastal areas along grassy clifftops and rocky beaches; inland meadows and mountainous areas close to the treeline |
| Range | maritime provinces of Canada: Newfoundland, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, and eastern Quebec along southern shore of the Gulf of St. Lawrence |
What does Short-tailed Swallowtail - Hodges#4163 eat?
The diet of the Short-tailed Swallowtail - Hodges#4163 includes larvae feed on cow-parsnip ( Heracleum spp.), Angelica ( Angelica atropurpurea ), and Scotch Lovage ( Ligusticum scoticum ).
When is Short-tailed Swallowtail - Hodges#4163 active?
Short-tailed Swallowtail - Hodges#4163: seasonal activity - adults fly from mid-June to end of July.