''Graphium eurypylus'', the great jay or pale green triangle, is a

species A species () is often defined as the largest group of organisms in which any two individuals of the appropriate sexes or mating types can produce fertile offspring, typically by sexual reproduction. It is the basic unit of Taxonomy (biology), ...

of tropical

butterfly Butterflies are winged insects from the lepidopteran superfamily Papilionoidea, characterized by large, often brightly coloured wings that often fold together when at rest, and a conspicuous, fluttering flight. The oldest butterfly fossi ...

belonging to the family Papilionidae.

Etymology

The specific name ''eurypylus'' likely comes from the name Eurypylus, a Thessalian king who lead the Thessalians during the

Trojan War The Trojan War was a legendary conflict in Greek mythology that took place around the twelfth or thirteenth century BC. The war was waged by the Achaeans (Homer), Achaeans (Ancient Greece, Greeks) against the city of Troy after Paris (mytho ...

Distribution

This species can be found in the Australasian realm and in the

Indomalayan realm The Indomalayan realm is one of the eight biogeographic realms. It extends across most of South and Southeast Asia and into the southern parts of East Asia. Also called the Oriental realm by biogeographers, Indomalaya spreads all over the Ind ...

(

Northeast India Northeast India, officially the North Eastern Region (NER), is the easternmost region of India representing both a geographic and political Administrative divisions of India, administrative division of the country. It comprises eight States and ...

Southeast Asia Southeast Asia is the geographical United Nations geoscheme for Asia#South-eastern Asia, southeastern region of Asia, consisting of the regions that are situated south of China, east of the Indian subcontinent, and northwest of the Mainland Au ...

and

Australia Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country comprising mainland Australia, the mainland of the Australia (continent), Australian continent, the island of Tasmania and list of islands of Australia, numerous smaller isl ...

Description

''Graphium eurypylus'' has a

wingspan The wingspan (or just span) of a bird or an airplane is the distance from one wingtip to the opposite wingtip. For example, the Boeing 777–200 has a wingspan of , and a wandering albatross (''Diomedea exulans'') caught in 1965 had a wingsp ...

reaching about . The basic colour of the uppersides of the wings is black, with a chain of yellowish or greenish spots at the edges. In the middle of the forewings there is a large yellowish or greenish area. The undersides of the wings are similar to the uppersides, but the basic colour is brownish and the spots are paler or whitish. The hindwings have a few red spots. Subspecies ''G. e. jason'' (South India and Sri Lanka) — Males and females. Upperside black. Forewing: three slender, oblique, short pale green streaks in basal half of cell and two irregular small similarly-coloured spots near its apex; a discal band composed of pale green spots that gradually diminish in size anteriorly, the spot in interspace 5 the smallest, the two in the interspaces above it slightly larger; a spot at base of interspace 7 and a sinuous complete subterminal series of spots similarly coloured. Hindwing: a transverse band that extends as far as interspace 2 posteriorly and is a continuation of the discal band on the forewing; the upper portion of this band white, the lower pale green; this is followed by a sinuous subterminal series of small pale green spots as on the forewing. Underside: brownish-fulvous black; markings similar, larger, their edges diffuse and all of a silvery white, slightly tinted with pale green. Hindwing in addition has a white basal streak that extends halfway down the dorsal margin; another shorter white subbasal streak from costa to the subcostal vein coalescent with the white of the discal band in the cell, the streak of ground colour that lies between this subbasal and the discal band jet black, interrupted where it crosses vein 8 by a crimson spot; finally, quadrate black spots near apex of cell and at bases of interspaces 1, 2 and 3, all outwardly margined with crimson. Antenna, head, thorax and abdomen black; beneath: the palpi, thorax and abdomen touched with white, the abdomen with dingy white lateral lines. Male has an abdominal fold within grey, with a fringe of white hairs. Subspecies ''G. e. axion'', Felder (Malayan region and Himalayas) can be distinguished from subspecies ''G. e. jason'' as follows: The markings that compose the discal band very much broader; all the spots and markings of pale green and white conspicuously larger, especially in the spring broods. Underside of hindwing: crimson spots more conspicuous, a line of crimson along the posterior portion of the dorsal margin; in most specimens the short subbasal narrow band of white that runs from the costa to the subcostal vein does not coalesce with the white of the discal band where it crosses the cell.

Gallery

File:GraphiumEurypylusJason 467.jpg, Subspecies ''G. e. jason'' File:Graphium eurypylus (ento-csiro-au).jpg, Dorsal view File:GraphiumEurypylusPamphylusMUpUnAC1.jpg File:GraphiumEurypylusMecistiusMUpUnAC1.jpg

Life cycle

Larva

"Very like that of '' P. agamemnon'', but the second pair of spines is entirely wanting and the third pair, which in ''agamemnon'' is rather long, curved and sharp, is reduced in this species to mere knobs encircled with a black ring. The colour is generally black or smoky until the last moult and then dull green, inclining to rusty brown on the sides, but some of our specimens remained quite black to the end." (Davidson and Aitken quoted in Bingham, 1907)

Larva A larva (; : larvae ) is a distinct juvenile form many animals undergo before metamorphosis into their next life stage. Animals with indirect development such as insects, some arachnids, amphibians, or cnidarians typically have a larval phase ...

e mainly feed on various species of

Annonaceae The Annonaceae are a Family (biology), family of flowering plants consisting of trees, shrubs, or rarely lianas commonly known as the custard apple family or soursop family. With 108 accepted genera and about 2400 known species, it is the largest ...

family ('' Annona cherimola'', '' Annona glabra'', '' Annona reticulata'', ''

Annona muricata Soursop (also called graviola, guyabano, and in Latin America ) is the fruit of ''Annona muricata'', a broadleaf, flowering, evergreen tree. It is native to the tropical regions of the Americas and the Caribbean and is widely propagated. It ...

'', '' Annona squamosa'', '' Pseuduvaria froggattii'', '' Artabotrys speciosus'', '' Goniothalamus macranthus'', '' Uvaria leichhardtii'', '' Uvaria rupestris'', '' Uvaria siamensis'', '' Monoon longifolium'', '' Huberantha nitidissima'', '' Uvaria rufa''), as well as on '' Michelia champaca'' (

Magnoliaceae The Magnoliaceae () are a flowering plant family, the magnolia family, in the order Magnoliales. It consists of two genera: '' Magnolia'' and ''Liriodendron'' (tulip trees). Unlike most angiosperms, whose flower parts are in whorls (rings), ...

) and '' Diploglottis australis'' (

Sapindaceae The Sapindaceae are a family (biology), family of flowering plants in the order Sapindales known as the soapberry family. It contains 138 genera and 1,858 accepted species. Examples include Aesculus, horse chestnut, maples, ackee and lychee. The ...

Pupa

"The distinguishing mark of the pupa is again in the frontal horn, which is straight as in ''agamemnon'', but directed forward instead of being almost erect. Its colour is normally green, but varies with that of the object to which it is attached." (Davidson and Aitken quoted in Bingham, 1907)

Subspecies

* ''Graphium eurypylus eurypylus'' ( Moluccas) * ''Graphium eurypylus gordion'' (C. & R. Felder, 1865) (

Philippines The Philippines, officially the Republic of the Philippines, is an Archipelagic state, archipelagic country in Southeast Asia. Located in the western Pacific Ocean, it consists of List of islands of the Philippines, 7,641 islands, with a tot ...

) * ''Graphium eurypylus artofasciatus'' Lathy ( Sula Islands) * ''Graphium eurypylus pamphylus'' (C. & R. Felder, 1865) (

Sulawesi Sulawesi ( ), also known as Celebes ( ), is an island in Indonesia. One of the four Greater Sunda Islands, and the List of islands by area, world's 11th-largest island, it is situated east of Borneo, west of the Maluku Islands, and south of Min ...

) * ''Graphium eurypylus lycaon'' (C. & R. Felder, 1865) (eastern

) * ''Graphium eurypylus sangira'' (Oberthür, 1879) ( Sangir) * ''Graphium eurypylus mecisteus'' (Distant, 1885) ( Peninsular Malaya,

Sumatra Sumatra () is one of the Sunda Islands of western Indonesia. It is the largest island that is fully within Indonesian territory, as well as the list of islands by area, sixth-largest island in the world at 482,286.55 km2 (182,812 mi. ...

Java Java is one of the Greater Sunda Islands in Indonesia. It is bordered by the Indian Ocean to the south and the Java Sea (a part of Pacific Ocean) to the north. With a population of 156.9 million people (including Madura) in mid 2024, proje ...

Borneo Borneo () is the List of islands by area, third-largest island in the world, with an area of , and population of 23,053,723 (2020 national censuses). Situated at the geographic centre of Maritime Southeast Asia, it is one of the Greater Sunda ...

) * ''Graphium eurypylus sallastius'' (Staudinger, 1895) ( Wetar, Sumbawa) * ''Graphium eurypylus extensus'' (Rothschild, 1895) ( New Britain, New Ireland, Duke of York Group, New Hanover) * ''Graphium eurypylus lycaonides'' (Rothschild, 1895) (Waigeu, Jobi, West Papua) * ''Graphium eurypylus insularius'' (Rothschild, 1896) (Tanahdjampea, Kalao) * ''Graphium eurypylus crispus'' (Fruhstorfer, 1903) (Babber Islands) * ''Graphium eurypylus sallastinus'' (Fruhstorfer, 1903) ( Sumba, Flores, Wetar, Leti, Babar) * ''Graphium eurypylus cheronus'' (Jordan, 1909) (

Sikkim Sikkim ( ; ) is a States and union territories of India, state in northeastern India. It borders the Tibet Autonomous Region of China in the north and northeast, Bhutan in the east, Koshi Province of Nepal in the west, and West Bengal in the ...

– southern

Burma Myanmar, officially the Republic of the Union of Myanmar; and also referred to as Burma (the official English name until 1989), is a country in northwest Southeast Asia. It is the largest country by area in Mainland Southeast Asia and ha ...

Thailand Thailand, officially the Kingdom of Thailand and historically known as Siam (the official name until 1939), is a country in Southeast Asia on the Mainland Southeast Asia, Indochinese Peninsula. With a population of almost 66 million, it spa ...

– southern

China China, officially the People's Republic of China (PRC), is a country in East Asia. With population of China, a population exceeding 1.4 billion, it is the list of countries by population (United Nations), second-most populous country after ...

, southern

Yunnan Yunnan; is an inland Provinces of China, province in Southwestern China. The province spans approximately and has a population of 47.2 million (as of 2020). The capital of the province is Kunming. The province borders the Chinese provinces ...

Hainan Hainan is an island provinces of China, province and the southernmost province of China. It consists of the eponymous Hainan Island and various smaller islands in the South China Sea under the province's administration. The name literally mean ...

Indo-China Mainland Southeast Asia (historically known as Indochina and the Indochinese Peninsula) is the continental portion of Southeast Asia. It lies east of the Indian subcontinent and south of Mainland China and is bordered by the Indian Ocean to th ...

) * ''Graphium eurypylus melampus'' (Rothschild, 1896) ( Kai Islands) * ''Graphium eurypylus macronius'' Jordan ( Andamans, ? Nicobars) * ''Graphium eurypylus lutorius'' (Fruhstorfer, 1907) ( Batjan) * ''Graphium eurypylus lepidus'' Fruhstorfer ( Tanimbar) * ''Graphium eurypylus aloricus'' (Fruhstorfer, 1909) ( Alor) * ''Graphium eurypylus nyctimus'' (Waterhouse & Lyell, 1914) (

Northern Territory The Northern Territory (abbreviated as NT; known formally as the Northern Territory of Australia and informally as the Territory) is an states and territories of Australia, Australian internal territory in the central and central-northern regi ...

) *''G. eurypylus pauli'' Page & Treadaway 2014 (Buton Island and Muna Island. Indonesia)Malcolm G. P. Page & Colin G. Treadaway , 2013 Revisional notes on the ''Arisbe eurypylus'' species group (Lepidoptera: Papilionoidea: Papilionidae) ''Stuttgarter Beiträge zur Naturkunde'' A, Neue Serie 7: 253–284 Stuttgar
pdf
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References

*Page, M.G.P & Treadaway, C.G. 2003 ''Schmetterlinge der Erde'', ''Butterflies of the world'' Part XVII (17), Papilionidae IX Papilionidae of the Philippine Islands. Edited by Erich Bauer and Thomas Frankenbach Keltern: Goecke & Evers; Canterbury: Hillside Books.

External links

* Don Herbison-Evans & Stella Crossle
Caterpillars of ''Graphium eurypylus''

* ttp://yutaka.it-n.jp/pap/10590020.html Race ''cheronus'' Thailand {{Taxonbar, from=Q5597268 eurypylus Butterflies of Australia Butterflies described in 1758 Taxa named by Carl Linnaeus Butterflies of Borneo Butterflies of Indochina Butterflies of Malaysia Butterflies of Java Lepidoptera of the Philippines