Graphium kirbyi

Graphium kirbyi, the Kirby's swordtail, is a butterfly in the family Papilionidae. It is found along the coast of Kenya and from the coast of Tanzania, inland to Morogoro.^[3] The habitat consists of coastal forests.

Graphium kirbyi
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Lepidoptera
Family:	Papilionidae
Genus:	Graphium
Species:	G. kirbyi
Binomial name
Graphium kirbyi (Hewitson, 1872) [1][2]
Synonyms
Papilio kirbyi Hewitson, 1872 Graphium (Arisbe) kirbyi Papilio kirbyi var. ottonis Aurivillius, 1899

Description

The hindwing is tailed as in Graphium policenes an it also agrees in the other distinguishing marks so nearly with policenes that it can scarcely be distinguished from it except by the unicolorous black middle cell of the forewing and the absence of the submarginal spots of the same wing. The markings of the upper surface consist only of a narrow median band, which, however, is continuous from the costal margin of the forewing to the middle of the inner margin of the hindwing and composed of 8 to 9 spots on the forewing (in cellules 1 a to 6 or 7 and 8) and 4 spots on the hindwing (in cellules 1 c, 6, 7 and the middle cell), and of 4 to 6 submarginal spots on the hindwing. The hindwing above without red spots. The ornamental band of the hindwing beneath is well developed and consists of red, black-bordered bars in cellules 1 c, 2, 3, 7 and in the apex of the middle cell.^[4]

Biology

Adults of both sexes visit flowers and males are known to mud-puddle. Adults are on wing from September to November.

The larvae feed on Annona senegalensis and Uvaria species.

Taxonomy

Graphium kirbyi is a member of the antheus - clade Graphium antheus, Graphium colonna,Graphium evombar, Graphium kirbyi, Graphium junodi, Graphium polistratus, Graphium illyris, Graphium gudenusi).

See also

• Kimboza Forest Habitat in Tanzania