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Scientific name Papilio (Pterourus) homerus Fabricius, 1793
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Chinese name 牙買加鳳蝶
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English name
Homerous Swallowtail |
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Classification 鳳蝶科(Papilionidae)，鳳蝶亞科(Papilioninae)，鳳蝶族(Papilionini)
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Diagnosis
Large-sized swallowtail butterfly. Wingspan 15-17 cm.
Forewing somewhat triangular with termen slightly incised;
hindwing somewhat orbicular with termen slightly undulate
and a short tail arising from M3; forewing ground colour
black; a row of submarginal yellow spots arranging from
apex to M2; a light yellow band starting from costal margin
to tornus and separated into eight smaller patches by
veins; a discoidal patch present in distal part of cell;
underside of forewing similar to upperside; hindwing without
prominent lunate submarginal patterns as other Papilio
species; five metallic blue patches located from rs to
cu1; a medial broad yellow band running across hindwing;
underside of hindwing similar to upperside but with less
developed medial band and duller ground colour. Female
similar to male in colouration but larger in size and
with more developed yellow area on wing pattern. |
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Distribution
This large butterfly is only known from the tropical forests
in Jamaica Island. There have been three main populations
known from this island, however, the central population
had been unfortunately extinct during the 1930s. |
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Habitat and Ecology
The species only slowly flies in un-interrupted lowland
forests. The adults are usually more active on canopy
layer and sunbathing on shrub layers. The main nectar
sources are belonging to Vitaceae, Asteraceae, Apocynaceae,
Verbenaceae and Convolvulaceae. The larvae feed on Hernandia
catalpaefolia (Hernandiaceae) and the relatives. The species
is bivoltine. |
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Threats and Conservation Status
All populations of this species have been largely declined
during the past thirty years. Habitat alternation and
commercial collecting have still been the main threats
to this rare species. For more detail on biology and conservation
of this species see Emmel & Garraway (1990), Garraway
& Bailey (1992), Garraway et al. (1993) and Turner
(1991). |
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Remarks
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