''Papilio mechowi'' is a butterfly of the family Papilionidae found in Africa.

Subspecies

*''Papilio mechowi mechowi'' (Cameroon, Congo, Central African Republic, southern Sudan, Uganda, Republic of the Congo, Angola) *''Papilio mechowi whitnalli'' Neave, 1904 (central and eastern Uganda)

Taxonomy

''Papilio mechowi'' is very similar to '' Papilio gallienus'' but males lack the distinct androconial patch of ''gallienus'' and the discal spots of the forewings have sharper edges. The outer edge of the forewing discal band is more curved in ''mechowi''. Both are members of the ''zenobia'' species group. In the ''zenobia'' group the basic upperside wing pattern is black with white or yellowish bands and spots. The underside is brown and basally there is a red area marked with black stripes and spots. In the discal area there is a yellowish band with black stripes and veins. Females resemble butterflies of the genus '' Amauris''. Both sexes lack tails. The

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, ...

members are: *''

Papilio cyproeofila ''Papilio cyproeofila'', the common white-banded swallowtail, is a species of swallowtail butterfly from the genus ''Papilio'' that is found in Guinea, Sierra Leone, Liberia, Ivory Coast, Ghana, Togo and Nigeria. The larvae feed on ''Piper'' spe ...

'' Butler, 1868 *''

Papilio fernandus ''Papilio fernandus'' is a species of swallowtail butterfly from the genus ''Papilio'' that is found in Equatorial Guinea. Taxonomy It is a member of the ''zenobia'' species group. In the ''zenobia'' group the basic upperside wing pattern is bla ...

'' Fruhstorfer, 1903 *'' Papilio filaprae'' Suffert, 1904 *'' Papilio gallienus'' Distant, 1879 *''Papilio mechowi'' Dewitz, 1881 *''

Papilio mechowianus ''Papilio mechowianus'' is a species of swallowtail butterfly from the genus '' Papilio'' that is found in Angola and the Republic of the Congo. Taxonomy It is a member of the ''zenobia'' species group. In the ''zenobia'' group the basic upp ...

'' Dewitz, 1885 *''

Papilio nobicea ''Papilio nobicea'', the Volta swallowtail, is a butterfly in the family Papilionidae. It is found in Ghana and Togo. The habitat consists of forests in mountainous terrain. Taxonomy It is a member of the ''zenobia'' species group. In the ''ze ...

'' Suffert, 1904 *'' Papilio zenobia'' Fabricius, 1775

Description

It is very similar to ''

''. It differs from ''P. mechowianus'' in having the white band narrow. Robert Herbert Carcasson (1960) described it as: "Large, tail-less. Hindwing sharply angled at vein 4; a continuous pale yellow median band in male broken into large internervular spots in forewing. A series of large prominent yellow spots at margin of hindwing. Female has a broader yellow band. In the lower and denser forests of the Congo it is replaced by ''P.gallienus'' Distant, with which it has been confused."

Description

The wingspan is about 100–110 mm. The forewings are dark brown. A chain of yellowish spots dominates the wing. The underside is very similar to the upside. But, the basic colour is brown. The hindwings are dark brown. The edge is wavy. A thin, yellowish band dominates the wing. At the edge there is a chain of yellowish spots. The underside is brown. Next to the body there are many black stripes and veins. In the middle of the wing there is a thin, yellowish band. At the edge there is a chain of yellowish spots. The body (abdomen) is dark brown. The thorax and the head are dark brown. The underside of all parts is brown.

Status

It is considered common and not threatened.

Biogeographic realm

Afrotropical realm The Afrotropical realm is one of Earth's eight biogeographic realms. It includes Africa south of the Sahara Desert, the majority of the Arabian Peninsula, the island of Madagascar, southern Iran and extreme southwestern Pakistan, and the island ...

Etymology

''P. mechowi'' was named for

Friedrich Wilhelm Alexander von Mechow Friedrich Wilhelm Alexander von Mechow (December 9, 1831 in Lauban – March 14, 1904 in Jugenheim) was a Prussian explorer of Africa, and a naturalist. Von Mechow was a specialty collector of phanerogams, particularly in Angola. He held the ra ...

References

*Carcasson, R.H. 1960 "The Swallowtail Butterflies 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

External links

Global Butterfly Information System
Images (as subgenus ''Druryia'')

Images from Naturhistorisches Museum Wien * {{Taxonbar, from=Q7132931 mechowi Butterflies of Africa Butterflies described in 1881 Taxa named by Hermann Dewitz