Citrus swallowtail butterfly
These beautiful butterflies are often seen necturing on flowers, seldom sitting still for more than a second
THE citrus swallowtail butterfly is one of the largest and most striking garden visitors, especially during the summer months.
They are large black and yellow/white butterflies that have a large eye spot at the bottom of each hind wing.
These beautiful butterflies are often seen necturing on flowers, seldom sitting still for more than a second, which makes them a photographer’s nightmare to capture in a good photo.
The females often hover about citrus trees, such as lemon trees, where they lay their eggs singly on the underside of the leaves. They also often make use of the curry leaf tree, so if you use these leaves you may want to check that you are not adding extra protein to your curry. However it would not be harmful if one did so, as they only eat what you found them on. These larvae start out being brown and black in colour (quite easy to see if you look for them), becoming green as they grow. They have false eyes near their head. The larvae also have an unique self-defense mechanism. When harassed by a potential predator, they shoot out what looks like a snake’s tongue from the head. This excretes a powerful scent which chases off the would-be predator.
Make contact with Warren to have some of your interesting insects, snakes or spiders identified. Whatsapp or call him on 072-211-0353.
