What Bug Is That? The guide to Australian insect families.

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Papilionidae

Overview

Description

Large; antennae short; maxillary palps reduced to tiny projection; labial palps appressed to frons; epiphysis present, fore leg fully developed but pulvilli and aerolium reduced, spurs 0-2-2 or 2-1-1, tarsal claws usually simple; fore wing with R 4 and R 5 usually stalked, CuP usually present near base (often said to be a cross-vein between CuA and 1A), 2 anal veins, 2A stalked with 1A terminating on dorsum; hind wing with humeral vein present, Sc connected to Rs near base by R 1 , 1 anal vein. Egg nearly spherical, smooth or with raised protuberances, usually laid singly. Larva stout, often with paired fleshy dorsal processes, thorax sometimes humped; a forked, eversible osmeterium, which emits a pungent odour can be extruded from dorsum of prothorax, crochets triordinal. Pupa exposed, attached by cremaster to a silken pad and by a central girdle of silk, head sometimes bifid, or thorax with a median horn.

  • Ornithoptera richmondius ; Richmond Birdwing

  • Papilio aegeus

  • Graphium sarpedon ; Blue Triangle Butterfly

  • Papilio demoleus

  • Larva of Papilio ulysses

  • Papilionidae

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