Graphium agamemnon

Graphium agamemnon (Linnaeus, 1758)
Green-spotted Triangle or Tailed Jay
(one synonym : Papilio mynion Fruhstorfer, 1906)
PAPILIONIDAE, PAPILIONOIDEA Don Herbison-Evans
(donherbisonevans@yahoo.com)
and
Stella Crossley

This species is probably named after Agamemnon, the great but cursed king of of Ancient Greece.

early instar
(Photo: courtesy of Wes Jenkinson)

The Caterpillar of this species initially is dark green or brown with a white patch and a humped thorax. Each segment has a short soft spine on each side, and the tail has a pair of spines.

later instar, displaying the osmeterium
(Photo: courtesy of Dr. Margaret Humphrey, Kuranda, Queensland)

The caterpillar everts a pair of soft yellow horns from behind the head when disturbed, and produces a pungent smell.

(Photo: courtesy of Michael Watt, Cairns, Queensland)

Later instars become a spotty green, with short black horns on each segment of the thorax, and a pair of horns on the tail. In later instars: the tail horns become white, and a dark line extends along each side.

last instar
(Photo: courtesy of Michael Watt, Cairns, Queensland)

The Caterpillar feeds by day on the young leaves of various plants in ANNONACEAE, including the introduced:

Custard Apple ( Annona reticulata ) ,

Soursop ( Annona muricata ),

Sugar Apple ( Annona squamosa ),

Biriba ( Rollinia delicosa ),

and the Australian natives :

Zig Zag Vine, ( Melodorum leichhardtii ),

Raspberry Jelly Tree ( Miliusa brahei ),

Canary Beech ( Polyalthia nitidissima ),

Yellowwood ( Pseuduvaria froggattii ),

Mulgrave's Yellowwood ( Pseuduvaria mulgraveana ), and

Hilagak ( Uvaria rufa ).

It has also been reported feeding happily on the foliage of plants in MAGNOLIACEAE including

"Little Gem" Magnolia ( Magnolia grandiflora ), and

Champak ( Magnolia champaca ).

(Photo: courtesy of Dr. Margaret Humphrey, Kuranda, Queensland)

The pupa is green with some brown markings, and is usually attached to a leaf by cremaster and girdle.

(Photo: courtesy of Dr. Margaret Humphrey, Kuranda, Queensland)

The adult butterflies have a wing span around 8 cms. The upper surfaces of the wings are black with rows of green spots, although in dead specimens, the green fades to yellow.