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Text and photographs
protected by Copyright © Adrian Hoskins
2007, and must not be published
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Butterflies of
West Africa
Turquoise-spotted
Swordtail
Graphium policenes
CRAMER, 1775
Family - PAPILIONIDAE
subfamily -
PAPILIONINAE
Tribe - LEPTOCIRCINI
introduction
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habitats |
lifecycle |
adult behaviour
Text and photographs protected by Copyright © Adrian
Hoskins 2007-2008, and must not be reproduced or published in part
or in whole elsewhere in any form without written permission from
Adrian Hoskins. Breach of copyright will be pursued by litigation.
Website designed, produced and owned by
Adrian Hoskins
Graphium
policenes, male, Kakum national park, Ghana
Introduction
There
are about 90 recorded species of Papilionidae in the continent of Africa,
including 37 in the genus
Graphium.
Some
species e.g. angolanus,
almansor,
philonoe
and leonidas
are without tails, but in others such as
kirbyi
and policenes
these are long and sword-like, hence the common name Swordtails.
The wings of all
Graphium species are dark brown,
marked with
translucent turquoise, white or yellow "windows". Males have a fold on the inner edge of
each hindwing
which encloses plumes of androconial scales. These specialised scales disseminate
pheromones that are used to entice females into copulation.
Graphium
policenes is
probably the most beautiful of the
Graphium
species in Africa, and also one of the commonest and most widespread. It occurs
in all forested regions of Africa, and is particularly abundant in Ghana,
Nigeria and Cameroon.
Habitats
This species breeds in rainforest habitats at altitudes between sea level and
about 1000m, but is most abundant in the lowlands.
Lifecycle
The larvae feed on
Artabortys,
Annona
( custard
apple ),
Uvaria
and other plants in the family Annonaceae.
Adult behaviour
Males are seen far more frequently than females, and are often encountered in groups of as many as 30 individuals, imbibing mineralised moisture from muddy tracks and forest roads. When feeding, the whole group usually faces into the breeze. The wings are usually held open at an angle of about 45 degrees, and kept constantly quivering.
If disturbed the butterflies erupt into flight, but most of them usually re-settle within half an hour at the same spot.
When not feeding they rest on the foliage of trees or bushes, often with the wings held outspread.
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