Papilio machaonides explained

Papilio machaonides, the machaonides swallowtail, is a species of Neotropical swallowtail butterfly from the genus Papilio that is found in Hispaniola and is also thought to inhabit the Cayman Islands.[1]

Description

Papilio machaonides has been described as having 'slow and floppy' flight. The discal band of the forewing is interrupted, with the posterior part contiguous with the cellspot, forming an oblique band.[2]

Status

It is a very common butterfly throughout Hispaniola, occurring from sea-level to high elevation. It is most commonly seen in July and August.

Philately

The butterfly appeared on a Haitian 1969 0.25 gourde stamp. It was in the Michel catalog 1094.

References

Notes and References

  1. http://www.nic.funet.fi/pub/sci/bio/life/insecta/lepidoptera/ditrysia/papilionoidea/papilionidae/papilioninae/papilio/index.html Papilio at Funet
  2. Jordan, K., in Seitz, A. (1907) . The Macrolepidoptera of the World. 5: The Macrolepidoptera of the American faunistic region. Papilionidae 1-45