Papilio ambrax

Papilio ambrax Boisduval, 1832
(one synonym: Papilio egipius)
PAPILIONIDAE
Ambrax Swallowtail

Don Herbison-Evans ( donherbisonevans@yahoo.com )
&
Stella Crossley

Papilio ambrax

The Caterpillar of this species is initially black and white.

disturbed caterpillar showing horns
(Photo: courtesy of Wes Jenkinson)

When disturbed, it produces a pair of yellow fleshy horns from behind the head.

(Photo: courtesy of Buck Richardson, Kuranda)

The last instar is quite different in shape and coloration from the early instars, being green with black bands outlined in white. It has a brown head.

(Specimen: courtesy of Coffs Harbour Butterfly House)

It feeds on various species in the family RUTACEAE : the Australian natives :

Mt White Lime ( Citrus garrawayae ),

Large Leaf Lime ( Citrus inodora ),

Citrus-Skinned Grape ( Clausena brevistyla ),

Satin Wood ( Zanthoxylum brachyacanthum ),

Prickly Ash ( Zanthoxylum nitidum ),

Oval-leaved Liana ( Zanthoxylum ovalifolium ),

and the introduced

various Citrus e.g. Lemon, Orange,

Wood Apple ( Limonia acidissima = Feronia limonia ),

Curry Leaf Tree, ( Murraya koenigii ), and

Japanese Prickly Ash ( Zanthoxylum ailanthoides ).

(Photo: courtesy of Wes Jenkinson)

The pupa is green and naked. It is attached to the stem of its foodplant by a cremaster at the tail and a silk girdle around the middle.

Female
(Photo: courtesy of Buck Richardson, Kuranda)

The adults have black wings with a white mark near the front wingtip, and a large white patch on each hindwing. The hind wings also have some red spots near the margin.

Male
(Specimen: courtesy of the The Australian Museum)

The female has more extensive white markings on the forewings. They both have a wingspan of about 8 cms.

Female
(Specimen: courtesy of the The Australian Museum)

The undersides are similar, with additional blue spots on the hindwings.

Underside
(Photo: courtesy of Buck Richardson, Kuranda)

The species occurs as various subspecies in

New Guinea,
and in Australia in:

Queensland ( as subspecies egipius ).