Papilio bridgei explained

Papilio bridgei is a swallowtail butterfly of the Papilioninae subfamily. It is found on various islands in the Solomons group. It is not threatened.[1]

Description

The wingspan is 140-.The sexes very different. Male black as in Papilio aegeus, forewing with macular band fromthe costal to the hindmargin, or with subapical band and a patch placed before the hindmargin. The white band of the hindwing formed as in P. aegeus, i. e. the 1. patch prolonged basad; beneath the hindwinground the cell, which are distally rounded and all closely approximated to it, the 1. spot sometimes indistinct or obsolete. Larva very similar to that of P. aegeus, green, with irregular, short light longitudinalstreaks, black head, black legs and above them a broad black longitudinal stripe, from which 4 bands emanate, on the 4., 7., 9: and last segments; the spines as in P. aegeus; on Citrus, in the forest. Pupa as inP. aegeus, in proportion to its size somewhat more slender. The butterfly in woods, where it is not easy to catch on account of the thick undergrowth and its swift flight. Appears to occur on all the islands of the Solomon Group.Karl Jordan in Seitz.See this work for the forms.[2]

Biology

The larvae feed on Citrus species.

Subspecies

Taxonomy

Papilio bridgei is a member of the aegeus species-group . The clade members are

Philately

Papilio bridgei depicted on a 5 January 1982 Solomon Islands postage stamp (SLB914: 25c).

Etymology

Named for "Captain Cyprian A. G. Bridge who commanded H.M. ship Espiègle during her long and interesting Commission of nearly four years, a greater portion of which time was spent among the islands of the Western Pacific."

External links

Notes and References

  1. Book: Collins . N. Mark . Morris . Michael G. . Threatened Swallowtail Butterflies of the World: The IUCN Red Data Book . 1985 . . Gland & Cambridge . 978-2-88032-603-6 . Biodiversity Heritage Library.
  2. Seitz, A. Band 9: Abt. 2, Die exotischen Großschmetterlinge, Die indo-australischen Tagfalter, 1927, 1197 Seiten 177 Tafeln pdf