Graphium is a genus of mostly tropical swallowtail butterflies commonly known as swordtails, kite swallowtails, or ladies. Native to Eurasia, Africa, and Oceania, the genus is represented by over 100 species. Their colouration is as variable as the habitats they frequent; from rainforest to savannah. Some possess tails which may be long and swordlike, while others lack any hindwing extensions. Graphium species are often sighted at mud puddles.
The more colourful species are popular with collectors and are commonly seen mounted in frames for sale. Well-known species include the tailed jay (Graphium agamemnon), common bluebottle (G. sarpedon), and the purple-spotted swallowtail (G. weiskei). One species, G. idaeoides, is notable for being a perfect mimic of the danainid Idea leuconoe.
Larvae feed variously on Annonaceae (most commonly), Magnoliaceae (commonly), Lauraceae (commonly), Rutaceae, Dioscoreaceae, Bombacaceae, Piperaceae, Anacardiaceae, Apocynaceae, Malpighiaceae, Hernandiaceae, Guttiferae, Monimiaceae, Pandanaceae, Winteraceae, and Euphorbiaceae.
Species
Listed alphabetically:
subgenus: Idaides
species group: codrus
Graphium anthedon (C. Felder & R. Felder, 1864) – Wallacea bluebottle
Graphium cloanthus (Westwood, 1841) – glassy bluebottle
Graphium codrus (Cramer, [1777]) – eastern olive triangle
Graphium empedocles (Fabricius, 1787), originally Papilio empedocles Fabricius, 1787; Mantissa Insectorum 2: 10, no. 94 = homonym of Papilio empedocles Cramer, 1779; replaced by empedovana Corbet, 1941. Graphium empedovana (Corbet, 1941) Graphium gelon (Boisduval, 1859) Graphium macleayanus (Leach, 1814) – Macleay's swallowtail Graphium mendana (Godman & Salvin, 1888) Graphium monticolus (Fruhstorfer, 1896) – Sulawesi blue triangle ?Graphium protensor (Gistel,1857) Papilio protensor Gistel, J.,1857 Achthundert und zwanzig neue oder unbeschriebene wirbellose Theire charakterisirt von Doctor Johannes Gistel Vacuna 2(2):513-606. synonym of Graphium sarpedon Graphium sarpedon (Linnaeus, 1758) – common bluebottle or blue triangle Graphium stresemanni (Rothschild, 1916) Graphium weiskei (Ribbe, 1900) – purple spotted swallowtail
species group: eurypylus
Graphium agamemnon (Linnaeus, 1758) – tailed jay or green-spotted triangle
Graphium arycles (Boisduval, 1836) – spotted jay
Graphium bathycles (Zinken, 1831) Graphium chironides (Honrath, 1884) – veined jay Graphium doson (C. Felder & R. Felder, 1864) – common jay Graphium eurypylus (Linnaeus, 1758) – great jay or pale green triangle Graphium evemon (Boisduval, 1836) – lesser jay Graphium leechi (Rothschild, 1895) Graphium macfarlanei (Butler, 1877) – green triangle butterfly or green triangle Graphium meeki (Rothschild & Jordan, 1901) – Meek's graphium Graphium meyeri (Hopffer, 1874) Graphium procles (Grose-Smith, 1887)
species group: wallacei
Graphium browni (Godman & Salvin, 1879) Graphium hicetaon (Mathew, 1886) Graphium sandawanum Yamamoto, 1977 – Apo swallowtail Graphium wallacei (Hewitson, 1858)
subgenus: Arisbe Hübner, [1819]
species group: antheus
Graphium antheus (Cramer, [1779]) – large striped swordtail
Graphium evombar (Boisduval, 1836)
species group: policenes
Graphium biokoensis Gauthier, 1984 – Gauthier's striped swordtail
Graphium colonna (Ward, 1873) – black swordtail or mamba swordtail
Graphium gudenusi (Rebel, 1911) Graphium illyris (Hewitson, 1872) - cream-banded swordtail Graphium junodi (Trimen, 1893) – Junod's swordtail Graphium kirbyi (Hewitson, 1872) – Kirby's swordtail Graphium liponesco (Suffert, 1904) Graphium policenes (Cramer, [1775]) – small striped swordtail or common swordtail Graphium policenoides (Holland, 1892) Graphium polistratus (Grose-Smith, 1889) – dancing swordtail Graphium porthaon (Hewitson, 1865) – coastal swordtail, cream-striped swordtail, or dark swordtail
species group: angolanus
Graphium angolanus (Goeze, 1779) – Angola white lady (swordtail) Graphium endochus (Boisduval, 1836) Graphium morania (Angas, 1849) – white lady (swallowtail) or small white-lady swordtail Graphium ridleyanus (White, 1843) - acraea swordtail Graphium schaffgotschi (Niepelt, 1927) – Schaffgotsch's swordtail Graphium taboranus (Oberthür, 1886)
species group: leonidas
Graphium cyrnus (Boisduval, 1836) Graphium leonidas (Fabricius, 1793) – veined swordtail, veined swallowtail, or common graphium Graphium levassori Oberthür, 1890
species group: tynderaeus
Graphium tynderaeus (Fabricius, 1793) – electric green swordtail or green-spotted swallowtail Graphium latreillianus (Godart, 1819) – coppery swordtail