King Swallowtail or Thoas Swallowtail (Heraclides thoas)

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Photo by pamsai

Published on Project Noah

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10.15, -83.81

Field Notes

Description:

This Swallowtail continually flapped its wings very fast while nectaring. My camera wasn't quite fast enough!

The King Swallowtail or Thoas Swallowtail (Papilio thoas) is a butterfly of the family Papilionidae.

Adult Thoas swallowtails fly year round in the tropics, feeding on nectar of a variety of flowers, including lantana, cesalpina, and bougainvilla.

The wingspan is 100–130 mm.

Habitat:

Mid-elevation tropical forests and lowland edges.

Reference Links:

Papilio thoas, Butterflies and Moths of North America | collecting and sharing data about Lepi…

Species ID Suggestions