Graphium macleayanus
| Macleay's Swallowtail | |
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| Species: | G. macleayanus
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| Binomial name | |
| Graphium macleayanus | |
The Macleay's Swallowtail (Graphium macleayanus) is a butterfly belonging to the family Papilionidae. The species was named after Alexander Macleay.[2][3]
Taxonomy
Macleay's swallowtail was first described by William Elford Leach in 1814. Two subspecies are recorded in Australia[1], the nominate form, G. m. macleayanus and G. m. moggana, which was first described by Leonard Edgar Couchman in 1965.[4] The name is synonymous with Papilio macleayanus.
Description
The caterpillar grows to a length of 4cm. The pupa is green with thin yellow lines.
The adult female Macleay's swallowtail has a wingspan of 59mm, whilst the adult male has a wingspan of 53mm.[5] The upside of the wings is green with white markings and black edges.[6] The lower surface is a deeper green with black, brown and white markings.[6] The lower wings are strongly tailed. [7]
Distribution and Habitat
The Macleay's swallowtail is one of the most widely distributed swallowtail butterflies in Australia.[8] It is found in Eastern Australia including the A.C.T., Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria and Tasmania. It is the only swallowtail found in Tasmania.[9] The species has also been found on Lord Howe Island and Norfolk Island, but not since 1893.[1] The habitat of the species includes urban areas, forests, woodlands and heath.[10]
Behaviour
The caterpillars are green, with small white dots all over the body and a humped thorax. They feed on the foliage of members in the Atherosperma, Cinnamomum, Cryptocarya, Daphnandra, Doryphora, Endiandra and Tasmannia genera.[11]
The adults feed on nectar from flowers, including the genera Leptospermum, Lantana and Buddleia.[5] The flight period is from November to March.[12]
See also
References
- ^ a b c "Macleay's swallowtail". CSIRO and Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry. 18 September, 2004. Retrieved 2009-11-04.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ Herbison-Evans, Don (5 September 2009). "Graphium macleayanus (Leach, 1814)". Retrieved 2009-11-03.
{{cite web}}: Unknown parameter|coauthors=ignored (|author=suggested) (help) - ^ Museum: the Macleays, their collections and the search for order. Cambridge University Press, 2007. ISBN 052187453X, 9780521874533.
{{cite book}}: Check|isbn=value: invalid character (help); Unknown parameter|coauthors=ignored (|author=suggested) (help) - ^ "Names List for Graphium macleayanus (Leach, 1814)". Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts. Thursday, October 9, 2008 4:11:37 PM EST. Retrieved 2009-11-04.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ a b "Macleay's Swallowtail ( Graphium macleayanus )". OzAnimals.com. Retrieved 2009-11-04.
- ^ a b "Graphium macleayanus - JCU". Retrieved 2009-08-26.
- ^ Tasmanian year book, Issue 11. Australian Bureau of Statistics, Tasmanian Office. 1977.
- ^ Australian natural history, Volume 14. Australian Museum. 1962.
- ^ Butterflies of Australia and New Guinea. N. H. Seward. 1951.
{{cite book}}: Unknown parameter|coauthors=ignored (|author=suggested) (help) - ^ "Macleay's Swallowtail Fact File". Australian Museum. 04 November 2009. Retrieved 2009-11-04.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ "Host taxa for Graphium macleayanus (Leach, 1814)". Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts. Thursday, October 9, 2008 4:11:37 PM EST. Retrieved 2009-11-04.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ Daley, Elizabeth (2007). Wings: An introduction to Tasmania's winged insects. Riffles Pty Ltd.
External Links
- List of host plants for Graphium macleayanus. Australian Biological Resources Study.