Insect · GBIF taxon 1937892
Papilio memnon
papilio memnonAlso known as Great Mormon Swallowtail
Great Mormon butterflies display remarkable sexual dimorphism, with males featuring uniform dark blue-black wings while females occur in dozens of distinctly patterned forms. Many female forms closely mimic unpalatable red-bodied swallowtails to deter hungry birds and other visual predators. Caterpillars feed primarily on wild and cultivated citrus foliage, making these large swallowtails frequent visitors to orchards and suburban gardens.
PolymorphicSwallowtailTropical
—observations
—countries
—peak records
Least ConcernConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXLeast ConcernRed List categories, explained →
Diet & prey
- Citrus foliage
- Flower nectar
- Mineralized mud
Predators
- Birds
- Lizards
- Mantises
ThreatsPesticide use in orchards, forest clearing
HabitatsTropical rainforests, woodland edges, citrus orchards, urban gardens
Life span1 to 2 months (adult)
Size / weightNot available
Classification
- OrderLepidoptera
- FamilyPapilionidae
- GenusPapilio
- Speciespapilio memnon
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskLow
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is low
- Safe to observe at a normal distance.
Responsible observation
- Garden visits: Plant native citrus trees and nectar-rich flowers to attract females laying eggs.
- Puddle watching: Look for groups of males gathering around damp mud to sip dissolved minerals.
Competitor Jeevan Jose, Kerala, India / CC BY-SA 4.0 · cc-by-sa
Mimicry Model (c) Charles Lam, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA) · cc-by-sa
Mimicry Model 
Close Relative Asif N Khan / CC BY 4.0 · cc-by
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