genus
Genus (; : genera ) is a taxonomic rank above species and below family (taxonomy), family as used in the biological classification of extant taxon, living and fossil organisms as well as Virus classification#ICTV classification, viruses. In bino ...
in the swallowtail butterfly
family
Family (from ) is a Social group, group of people related either by consanguinity (by recognized birth) or Affinity (law), affinity (by marriage or other relationship). It forms the basis for social order. Ideally, families offer predictabili ...
,
Papilionidae
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 includ ...
, as well as the only representative of the
tribe
The term tribe is used in many different contexts to refer to a category of human social group. The predominant worldwide use of the term in English is in the discipline of anthropology. The definition is contested, in part due to conflict ...
Papilionini. The word ''papilio'' is
Latin
Latin ( or ) is a classical language belonging to the Italic languages, Italic branch of the Indo-European languages. Latin was originally spoken by the Latins (Italic tribe), Latins in Latium (now known as Lazio), the lower Tiber area aroun ...
for
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 ...
.
It includes the common yellow swallowtail ('' Papilio machaon''), which is widespread in the Northern Hemisphere and the
type species
In International_Code_of_Zoological_Nomenclature, zoological nomenclature, a type species (''species typica'') is the species name with which the name of a genus or subgenus is considered to be permanently taxonomically associated, i.e., the spe ...
of the genus, as well as a number of other well-known North American
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), ...
such as the western tiger swallowtail ('' Papilio rutulus''). Familiar species elsewhere in the world include the Mormons (''
Papilio polytes
''Papilio polytes'', the common Mormon, is a common species of swallowtail butterfly, swallowtail butterfly widely distributed across Asia.
This butterfly is known for the mimicry displayed by the numerous forms of its females which mimic inedi ...
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 ...
('' Papilio aegeus'', '' Papilio ulysses'', respectively) and the citrus swallowtail of Africa ('' Papilio demodocus'').
Older classifications of the swallowtails tended to use many rather small genera. More recent classifications have been more conservative, and as a result a number of former genera are now absorbed within ''Papilio'', such as ''Achillides'', ''Eleppone'', '' Druryia'', ''Heraclides'' (giant swallowtails), ''Menelaides'', ''Princeps'', ''Pterourus'' (tiger swallowtails), and ''Sinoprinceps''. The
genus
Genus (; : genera ) is a taxonomic rank above species and below family (taxonomy), family as used in the biological classification of extant taxon, living and fossil organisms as well as Virus classification#ICTV classification, viruses. In bino ...
as recognized by modern systems has about 200 members. The genus ''Chilasa'' is regarded as a subgenus of ''Papilio'' by some workers, as are the baggy-tailed swallowtails (''Agehana''), although the latter
taxon
In biology, a taxon (back-formation from ''taxonomy''; : taxa) is a group of one or more populations of an organism or organisms seen by taxonomists to form a unit. Although neither is required, a taxon is usually known by a particular name and ...
is usually considered a subgenus of ''Chilasa''.
Many of the
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 resemble bird droppings during a development stage. Adults are edible to birds and some species are mimics.''The Butterflies of North America'', James A. Scott, , 1986
Ecology
In their larval form, members of ''Papilio'' typically feed upon plants of
Rutaceae
The Rutaceae () is a family (biology), family, commonly known as the rueRUTACEAE in Bo ...
including common ornamental and agriculturally important species such as ''
Citrus
''Citrus'' is a genus of flowering trees and shrubs in the family Rutaceae. Plants in the genus produce citrus fruits, including important crops such as oranges, mandarins, lemons, grapefruits, pomelos, and limes.
''Citrus'' is nativ ...
'' species, ''
Murraya
''Murraya'' () is a genus of flowering plants in the citrus family, Rutaceae. It is distributed in Asia, Australia, and the Pacific Islands.Choisya'' species and '' Calodendrum'' species. Caterpillars sequester
terpenoid
The terpenoids, also known as isoprenoids, are a class of naturally occurring organic compound, organic chemicals derived from the 5-carbon compound isoprene and its derivatives called terpenes, diterpenes, etc. While sometimes used interchangeabl ...
s from their diet to produce a foul smelling oil used in defence.
incertae sedis
or is a term used for a taxonomy (biology), taxonomic group where its broader relationships are unknown or undefined. Alternatively, such groups are frequently referred to as "enigmatic taxa". In the system of open nomenclature, uncertainty ...
Papilio polytes
''Papilio polytes'', the common Mormon, is a common species of swallowtail butterfly, swallowtail butterfly widely distributed across Asia.
This butterfly is known for the mimicry displayed by the numerous forms of its females which mimic inedi ...
852
__NOTOC__
Year 852 (Roman numerals, DCCCLII) was a leap year starting on Friday of the Julian calendar.
Events
By place
Europe
* March 4 – Trpimir I of Croatia, Trpimir I, duke (''Knyaz, knez'') of Duchy of Croatia, Croatia, an ...