Papilio anchisiades

Papilio anchisiades can be found from south Texas, USA to Argentina, but have also been reported in Kansas, southeast Arizona, and west Texas in the United States. (Carter, 1992; Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center, 2001)

Papilio anchisiades live in a variety of habitats. The habitats range from tropical rainforests to cultivated land to citrus groves and gardens. (Carter, 1992; Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center, 2001)

Papilio anchisiades are large and mostly black with a wingspan of 7-10 cm. Unlike most swallowtails, ruby-spotted swallowtails lack tails on their hindwings. Their most distinctive characteristics are pink, ruby, or purplish spots on the hindwings. Females can be detected by a diffuse white patch on the upper forewing. In the early stages, the caterpillars are green and brown with white markings and bulges on their backs. The pupae are light-brown in color with ligh green spots, and are thicker in their anterior portion. (Carter, 1992; Holland, 1907; Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center, 2001; Scott, 1986)

Papilio anchisiades go through four life stages (egg, caterpillar, Chrysalis (pupa), adult (butterfly)).

During reproduction and in the caterpillar stages of life, Papilio anchisiades is social. The females lay eggs on plant leaves in groups, and caterpillars lay on leaves in clusters during the day and feed at night. They also molt together. The caterpillars are equipped with special scent organs that spray an odor to ward off predators when alarmed. Ruby-spotted swallowtails take several flights during May and October, and their flight patterns are diurnal. (Carter, 1992; Forestiero and Sbordoni, 1998; Holland, 1907; Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center, 2001)

Papilio anchisades spray a warning chemical to ward off predators.

As caterpillars, ruby-spotted swallowtails feed on citrus trees such as Citrus, Casimiroa, Zanthoxylum, and as adults, they use their proboscis to feed on flower nectar. (Carter, 1992; Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center, 2001)

As far as scientists know there are no negative affects on humans by these butterflies. (Carter, 1992)

Ruby-spotted swallowtails do not have a profound affect on humans except that it is a favorite of butterfly collectors and owners of gardens because of their beauty. (Carter, 1992)

Papilio anchisiades has a stable population throughout its main habitats, however in some parts of the U.S., like Arizona and Kansas, this species is considered rare. (Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center, 2001)

The Ruby-spotted swallowtail is a popular butterfly to raise, and is often seen in flower gardens. This species is usually part of many butterfly collections. (Carter, David 1992)