Northern Lime Swallowtail

Papilio demoleus demolius (Linnacus 1758)  നാരകശലഭം 

Photo: Anila Manalil

Malayalam Name         :     നാരകശലഭം 
Family                           :     Papilionidae
Sub-family                    :     Papilioninae
Tribe                             :     Papilionini
Order                            :     Lepidoptera
DISTRIBUTION
It is distributed throughout South and Ssoutheast Asia and is common every where.
STATUS
Very common 
HABITAT
This species is perhaps found in more diverse habitats than any other Swallowtails. Its habitat range from savannas, fallow lands and gardens to semi-evergreen and evergreen forests and it is particularly plentiful among streams and river-banks. It occurs throughout the year , but commonly during the monsoon and post monsoon months.
HABIT
This butterflies flies in several manners. In the morning it flies slowly ,during hotter hours it flies rapidly. It is also an avid nectar - feeder. It basks in very open places with its wings spread flat. While resting, the wings are closed over the back and the fore wings are closed over the back and the fore wings are drawn between the hind wings.
LARVAL HOST PLANTS
In different habitats it uses different host plants, all to of the family Rutaceae. 
Citrus varieties : C.aurantifolia , C. grandis, C.limon, C.sinensis and also Murraya koenigii. 
LIFE CYCLE

 


MORE IMAGES
        

Photo  Baiju K


Photo  Baiju K


Lime Swallotail
Photographer: Anila Manalil

Lime swallotail
Lime Swallowtail -Puddling - Photographer: Anila Manalil

Lime swallotail
 Anila Manalil

Lime swallotail

Lime Swallowtail -Ventralview - Photographer: Anila Manalil

Lime swallotail


 Courtesy 
Write up:Wikipaedia
Images: TNHS

കേരള വനം വന്യജീവി വകുപ്പ്  
മാങ്കുളം ഡിവിഷൻ

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