''Graphium kirbyi'', the Kirby's swordtail, is a
butterfly in the family
Papilionidae. It is found along the coast of
Kenya and from the coast of
Tanzania, inland to
Morogoro.
[Afrotropical Butterflies: File C – Papilionidae - Tribe Leptocercini]
/ref> The habitat consists of coastal forests.
Description
The hindwing is tailed as in '' Graphium policenes'' an it also agrees in the other distinguishing marks so nearly with ''policenes'' that it can scarcely be distinguished from it except by the unicolorous black middle cell of the forewing and the absence of the submarginal spots of the same wing. The markings of the upper surface consist only of a narrow median band, which, however, is continuous from the costal margin of the forewing to the middle of the inner
margin of the hindwing and composed of 8 to 9 spots on the forewing (in cellules 1 a to 6 or 7 and 8) and 4 spots on the hindwing (in cellules 1 c, 6, 7 and the middle cell), and of 4 to 6 submarginal spots on the hindwing. The hindwing above without red spots. The ornamental band of the hindwing beneath is well developed and consists of red, black-bordered bars in cellules 1 c, 2, 3, 7 and in the apex of the middle cell.[Aurivillius, .O.. 1908-1924. In: Seitz, A. ''Die Großschmetterlinge der Erde'' Band 13: Abt. 2, ''Die exotischen Großschmetterlinge, Die afrikanischen Tagfalter'', 1925, 613 Seiten, 80 Tafeln (The Macrolepidoptera of the World 13).Alfred Kernen Verlag, Stuttgart.]
Biology
Adults of both sexes visit flowers and males are known to mud-puddle. Adults are on wing from September to November.
The larvae feed on ''Annona senegalensis
''Annona senegalensis'', commonly known as African custard-apple, wild custard apple, wild soursop, ( Mandinka language), and ( Wolof language) is a species of flowering plant in the custard apple family, Annonaceae. The specific epithet, ''s ...
'' and '' Uvaria'' species.
Taxonomy
''Graphium kirbyi'' is a member of the ''antheus'' - clade
A clade (), also known as a monophyletic group or natural group, is a group of organisms that are monophyletic – that is, composed of a common ancestor and all its lineal descendants – on a phylogenetic tree. Rather than the English term, ...
''Graphium antheus
''Graphium antheus'', the large or larger striped swordtail, is a species of butterfly in the family Papilionidae (swallowtails), found in tropical and sub-Saharan Africa.[Graphium colonna
''Graphium colonna'', the black swordtail or mamba swordtail, is a species of butterfly in the family Papilionidae (swallowtails). It is found in Africa (Liberia, Sierra Leone, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Togo, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Democrati ...]
'','' Graphium evombar'' , ''Graphium kirbyi'', ''Graphium junodi
''Graphium junodi'', the Junod's swordtail, is a butterfly in the family Papilionidae. It is found in Angola, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Uganda, Tanzania, Mozambique and along the eastern border of Zimbabwe. The habitat consist ...
'', ''Graphium polistratus
''Graphium polistratus'', the dancing swordtail, is a butterfly in the family Papilionidae (swallowtails). It is found in Nigeria, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the coast of Kenya, Tanzania, northern Malawi and Mozambique. Its habitat con ...
'', ''Graphium illyris
''Graphium illyris'', the cream-banded swordtail, is a forest butterfly of the swallowtail family (Papilionidae). It is native to the Afrotropical realm.
Description
The markings of the upper surface yellow; the median band curved slightly bas ...
'', ''Graphium gudenusi
''Graphium gudenusi'' is a butterfly in the family Papilionidae. It is found in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Rwanda, Burundi and Uganda. Its habitat consists of forests.
It is a generally scarce species. Males fly along the banks of ...
'').
See also
*Kimboza Forest
Kimboza Forest is a lowland forest in Tanzania located at the foothills of the Uluguru Mountains . The large Ruvu River crosses the reserve and the forest stretches to the top of the nearby hills. It is interspersed by massive rock outcrops and ha ...
Habitat in Tanzania
References
*Carcasson, R.H 1960 The Swallowtail Butterflies
Swallowtail butterflies are large, colorful Butterfly, butterflies in the family Papilionidae, and include over 550 species. Though the majority are tropical, members of the family inhabit every continent except Antarctica. The family includes ...
of East Africa (Lepidoptera, Papilionidae). ''Journal of the East Africa Natural History Society'
pdf
Key to East Africa members of the species group, diagnostic and other notes and figures. (Permission to host granted by The East Africa Natural History Society
Kirbyi
Butterflies of Africa
Lepidoptera of Tanzania
Butterflies described in 1872
Taxa named by William Chapman Hewitson
{{Papilionidae-stub