Chinese Yellow Swallowtail
Papilio xuthus
Papilio xuthus, also called Asian Swallowtail or Japanischer Schwalbenschwanz is a well-known butterfly from the Palaearctic ecozone (Asia). The first description was in 1767 by Linnaeus. With a wingspan of 8.0 – 10.0 cm the Asian Swallowtail is a small member of the family PAPILIONIDAE. The butterfly is yellow and black. Hind wings have tails.
forewings are black. At the margin there is a chain of little yellow spots. There is a chain of big yellow spots in the middle of the wing. On the wing leading edge there are three yellow spots. In the big black zone nearby the body there are some yellow strips.
The underside is a copy of upside, but there are some differences. All yellow areas are broader than upside. Therefore the chain of yellow spots at the margin is change to two yellow bands.
The hind wings are black and have tails. From the body to the middle of wing there is a big yellow area. This area is split by black viens. Next to the yellow area there is a chain of blck spots. At the margin there is a chain of yellow spots. In back there is a red eye with blue eyeshadow and black core.
The underside is a copy of upside, but there are some differences. All yellow areas are broader than upside. Three of the yellow spots have also orangs scals. In the middle of the chain of blue spots there are two orange spots.
The body is yellow with a small black strip on side and the upside is black.
Sex differences: The female has more blue and orange scales than the male.
Distribution
The Asian Swallowtail (Papilio xuthus ) is a common butterfly of the Palaearctic ecozone (Asia). The distribution extend from Japan, North- and Southkorea to China, Russia and Philippinen.
The flight period of the Asian Swallowtail is from May to August