Two-tailed Swallowtail

Taxobox | name = Two-Tailed Swallowtail


image_width = 240px
regnum = Animalia
phylum = Arthropoda
classis = Insecta
ordo = Lepidoptera
familia = Papilionidae
subfamilia = Papilioninae
tribus = Papilionini
genus = "Papilio"
species = "P. multicaudata"
binomial = "Papilio multicaudata"
binomial_authority = WF Kirby, 1884

The Two-Tailed Swallowtail ("Papilio multicaudata") is a large North American butterfly. Its appearance is similar to Western and Eastern Tiger Swallowtails, but has thinner and fewer black stripes on the wings and the hind wing has two tails. The Two-Tailed Swallowtail has distinctive yellow wings with a black tiger striping. Each hindwing has several blue markings (top and bottom). The eyespots can fool predators into attacking the rear of the butterfly instead of the head, giving the butterfly a chance to escape. It grows to 2.75 - 5.25 inches in width. The Two-tailed Swallowtail is the state butterfly of Arizona.

The butterfly can be found throughout Arizona except in the extreme west and southwest (it can also be found in: CA, NM, UT, CO and NV) and typically lives in canyons and cities at lower elevations. Adults fly from late February to mid-November. Host plants include: chokecherry, bitter cherry, Arizona rosewood, single-leaf ash, hoptree and Arizona Sycamore.

References

* "Two-Tailed Swallowtail Butterfly." Toddshikingguide. 4 May 2008

External links

* http://www.toddshikingguide.com/FloraFauna/Fauna52.htm [Acessed May 2008]