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| Schaus' Swallowtail |
Latin
Name: Papilio aristodemus ponceanus |
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Genus: Papilio Species: aristodemus ponceanus |
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Comments: |
| Originally described in 1911 by William Schaus, a physician visiting Miami to treat yellow fever victims, this swallowtail is one of the rarest butterflies in Florida. Once found throughout much of Keys and extreme southern portions of the mainland, its range and population numbers have been severely reduced over the past half-century due to habitat loss and mosquito control pesticide use. Today, the butterfly remains primarily restricted to the intact hardwood hammocks of northern Key Largo and the islands within Biscayne National Park. Schaus' Swallowtail is Florida's only federally endangered butterfly. |
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Life
Cycle: |
Broods: |
single generation |
Egg: |
light or dark green, laid singly on host leaves; new growth is strongly preferred |
Larva: |
brown with cream and yellow patches and several longitudinal rows of blue spots; young larvae resemble bird droppings |
Host Plants: |
Wild Lime and Torchwood |
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Host
Plants: |
Host
Plants: |
Wild Lime and Torchwood |
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Habitat: |
Habitat: |
tropical hardwood hammock |
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Wingspan: |
Inches: |
3.25 - 5.25 |
Centimeters: |
8.3 - 13.3 |
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Appearance: |
Sexes: |
similar, although male has yellow-tipped antenn |
Compare: |
Giant Swallowtail is generally larger, has yellow-centered hindwing tails, and intersecting yellow forewing bands. |
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| Markings: |
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Above:
- dark brown with a submarginal row of yellow pots and a broad yellow median band; hindwing tails outlined in yellow
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Below:
- yellow with brown markings and wide reddish brown median hindwing band bordered by a row of blue spots
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Abundance: |
rare; highly localized; state and federally endangered |
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Map Legend: Resident (green) | Stray
(Red) |
