Higher classification Papilio | Family Papilionidae Scientific name Papilio neumoegeni Rank Species | |
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Similar Papilio diophantus, Papilio inopinatus, Papilio fuelleborni, Papilio oenomaus, Papilio tydeus | ||
Papilio neumoegeni is a species of butterfly in the family Papilionidae. It is endemic to the islands of Sumba in Indonesia.
Contents
Description
Papilio neumoegeni has a forewing length of 43–48 mm.
Male: The upperside forewing is black with metallic, golden-green scales scattered over most of the wing excluding the outer and costal margins. A metallic, golden-green median band starting from the costa passes outside the cell to just inside the tornus. It is interrupted in the lower part by a large brown-black sex brand. The upperside hindwing has a scalloped outer edge and a long, spatulate tail which may bear green scaling over the tips. The ground colour black has metallic golden-green scales which are scattered over the basal third of the wing. A broad emerald-green discal band extends inwards over the cell apex (not over the black hindwing apex), and a series of large emerald-green lunules or spots sometimes merge into the band subapically.
The underside is brownish black with a few golden scales scattered over all but the lighter coloured distal part. The underside of the forewing has an oblique, pale grey postdiscal band tapering towards the tornus. The discal region of the under hindwing has a border of black lunules and a black eyespot. These are all edged with orange and pale blue.
Female: Slightly larger than the male, differing in the lack of a sex brand on the upperside of the forewing. She may be browner and have an ochrous subapical spot on the upper hindwing.
Distribution
Papilio neumoegeni is found only on the island of Sumba.
Habitat and ecology
Males are known to fly all year round along paths or in forest glades. They rest in bushes during the afternoon Associated species are Papilio polytes and Atrophaneura oreon. The female flies slowly and generally high up in the forest canopy. The larval food plant is not known.