<> Papilio polytes (Linnaeus, 1758) <>

the Common Mormon หางติ่งธรรมดา

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Photo taken at Doi Suthep-Pui National Park, Chiang Mai, Thailand ♂ 400m a.s.l.

Papilio polytes is a very common species that is found in every country across the region from the Himalayas to the islands of Indonesia and the Philippines. It is dimorphic and although there are similarities in appearance, the sexes are visually different and the female is slightly larger in size. Also the female is polymorphic and has four different forms, three of which mimic the toxic Pachliopta species. These forms are cyrus (non-mimetic), polytes, romulus, and stichius. It is a fast-flying butterfly but usually stays quite low, no higher than around three metres above the ground.

This species can be found in a wide range of habitats, anywhere there are citrus trees. Both sexes visit flowers and, Papilio polytes having a long proboscis, is able to feed from flowers having long tubelike corollas. In this species only the males partake in mud puddling but both sexes like to bask in the sun on vegetation close to the ground. The species is multivoltine with several broods per annum.

Synonyms and previously used names: Papilio astyanax, Papilio hector, Princeps heroicus stichius, Papilio pammon, Papilio chalcaevorus, Papilio mutius, Papilio cyrus, Menelaides polytes, Papilio obscurus, Papilio nicanor, Papilio walkeri, Papilio depicta, Papilio ocha

Taxonomy: Animalia - Arthropoda - Insecta - Lepidoptera - Papilionidae - Papilioninae - Papilio - polytes

Regional subspecies: Papilio polytes pasikrates (Taiwan), Papilio polytes polytes (N.Vietnam, China), Papilio polytes romulus (India, Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam, Malaysia, Singapore).

Regional Distribution: India, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam, China, Taiwan, Malaysia, Singapore

Doi Suthep-Pui National Park, Chiang Mai, Thailand ♂ 700m a.s.l.

Habitat: Papilio polytes can be found in a wide range of habitats, up to 2500m a.s.l., including open evergreen and deciduous forest, grassland, hill slopes, agricultural land, and urban areas, basically wherever citrus trees are growing. They are usually seen near streams as the males are enthusiastic mud puddlers.

Flight time: all year round, depending on location. Wingspan: 80-95mm

Life History: egg 3-4 days instar 1 3 days instar 2 3 days instar 3 3 days instar 4 3 days instar 5 5-7 days pupa 10-15 days Total egg-adult 28-32 days
All times are approximate and can vary depending on the season and on the host used.

Larval Hosts: Aegle marmelos, Atalantia buxifolia, Atalantia ceylanica, Atalantia monophylla, Atalantia racemosa, Bergera koenigii, Citrus × aurantiifolia, Citrus × aurantium, Citrus hystrix, Citrus japonica, Citrus × limon, Citrus maxima, Citrus medica, Citrus reticulata, Citrus × tachibana, Citrus trifoliata, Clausena anisata, Clausena excavata, Clausena harmandiana, Clausena heptaphylla, Clausena lansium, Glycosmis angustifolia, Glycosmis cochinchinensis, Glycosmis mauritiana, Glycosmis parviflora, Glycosmis pentaphylla, Limonia acidissima, Merope angulata, Micromelum minutum, Murraya paniculata, Naringi crenulata, Pleiospermium alatum, Ruta graveolens, Tetradium glabrifolium, Triphasia trifolia, Zanthoxylum armatum, Zanthoxylum asiaticum, Zanthoxylum avicennae, Zanthoxylum myriacanthum, Zanthoxylum nitidum, Zanthoxylum ovalifolium, Zanthoxylum rhetsa, Zanthoxylum scandens (Rutaceae).
Actual host plant used depends upon location and availabilty of plant species.

Adult Food Sources: Nectar - Clerodendrum infortunatum, Clerodendrum paniculatum, Orthosiphon aristatus, Premna serratifolia, Tectona grandis, Vitex negundo, Vitex trifolia (Lamiaceae), Ixora chinensis, Ixora coccinea, Ixora javanica, Mussaenda frondosa (Rubiaceae), Duranta erecta, Stachytarpheta indica, Stachytarpheta jamaicensis, Lantana camara (Verbenaceae), Ageratina adenophora, Ageratum conyzoides, Bidens alba, Bidens pilosa, Chromolaena odorata, Cosmos bipinnatus, Cosmos caudatus, Crassocephalum crepidioides, Chromolaena odorata, Dahlia imperialis, Mikania micrantha, Sphagneticola trilobata, Zinnia elegans (Asteraceae), Asystasia gangetica, Pseuderanthemum maculatum (Acanthaceae), Caesalpinia crista, Caesalpinia pulcherrima, Delonix regia, Libidibia coriaria, Senna siamea, Senna tora (Fabaceae), Varronia cylindristachya (Boraginaceae), Ziziphus mauritiana (Rhamnaceae), Catharanthus roseus, Wrightia tinctoria (Apocynaceae), Cestrum aurantiacum, Solanum mauritianum (Solanaceae), Abutilon hirtum, Hibiscus sabdariffa, Sida cordifolia (Malvaceae), Hypericum mysurense (Hypericaceae), Rhododendron arboreum (Ericaceae), Bougainvillea spectabilis (Nyctaginaceae), Tetrastigma leucostaphylum (Vitaceae), Oxalis barrelieri (Oxalidaceae), Jasminum sambac (Oleaceae), Acacia mearnsii (Mimosaceae), Antigonon leptopus (Polygonaceae), Muntingia calabura (Muntingiaceae), Aegle marmelos, Bergera koenigii, Zanthoxylum avicennae (Rutaceae), Plumbago auriculata (Plumbaginaceae), Terminalia pallida (Combretaceae), Cuphea hyssopifolia (Lythraceae), Jatropha integerrima, Jatropha podagrica (Euphorbiaceae). Other - mud puddling, animal dung