Asian Swallowtail

Characteristics

A familiar butterfly with a black pattern on a yellowish-white background. Five dark blue patterns are lined up on the edge of the hind wings, and one orange or red spot is placed under the innermost pattern. The underside has many orange markings. The caudate is sharply pointed. The body is black and yellowish white with vertical stripes, and the body surface is covered with hair.

How to distinguish between Papilio machaon and Papilio machaon

The swallowtail is very similar to the swallowtail. The distinguishing point is the base of the forewings. The Japanese swallowtail has a Confucius pattern with yellowish white and black spots all the way to the base, while the Papilio machaon has a darker pattern at the base.

Ecology

It occurs from spring to autumn and can be seen widely from forests to parks near houses. Larvae feed on plants of the Rutaceae family, so adults often fly near citrus trees. Sometimes it flies normally in grasslands and farmlands.

When it grows to the fifth instar larva, it becomes a pupa and emerges in about a week. It sucks nectar from flowers and absorbs water on the ground.

Habitat

In the spring, I photographed an individual that was absorbing water in a rice field at Katakura Castle Ruins Park in Hachioji City. It spread its wings and sat still in the sunlight.

I have been breeding swallowtails every year on my yuzu and kumquat trees. If you look closely at the leaves, you will find larvae that mimic bird droppings.