Papilio woodfordi, the Woodford's swallowtail, is a swallowtail butterfly of the Papilioninae subfamily. It is found on various islands in the Pacific Ocean (see Subspecies section).
Description The wingspan is .Sexes similar, the female somewhat paler. Forewing above with complete broad white discal band or only with white spots between cell and apex. On the upper surface of the hindwing a white discal band which extends from the costal to the abdominal margin and is almost straight proximally, the 1.- patch of the band always smaller than the 2., commonly much shorter than the 7.; the marginal tooth of the 3.radial distinctly projecting. On the under surface of the forewing a subapical band, which is commonly reduced to some faint spots. The hindwing beneath with submarginal spots, of which above mostly only the anal spot (sometimes also a second one) is developed; on the disc blue spots and proximally to these frequently a grey macular band. Northern Solomon Islands. The larva on Citrus; green, the underside with the exception of the thorax grey-green, on the raised 4. segment a black belt, which laterally is produced into a point anteriorly; on the pronotum and the 11. segment a pair of pale spines. — woodfordi Godm. & Salv. (23 b). Forewing with a band running from the costal to the hindmargin, which is more or less interrupted below the 2. radial. with yellowish bands are ab. ochracea Ribbe. Bougainville and Shortland Islands (Alu, Fauro). — choiseuli Rothsch. (24 b). The band of the forewing only developed in the anterior part, which is placed close to the apex of the cell. Choiseul. — ariel Gr.-Sm. Forewing in the male with 2—-4, in the female with 3—5 spots, which are separated from the cell, posteriorly on the disc commonly traces of white spots; the band of the hindwing narrower than in the two preceding forms. Isabel. — laarchus Godm. & Salv. (23 b). Forewing with an oblique subapical band remote from the cell, terminating before the 2. radial half-way between cell and distal margin and appearing again before the hindmargin in theform of diffuse spots. The band of the hindwing almost twice as broad as in ariel. Rubiana Group: New Georgia, Kulambangra, Vella Lavella, Guizo, Rendova; common. The butterfly has a swift flight like all the allied species; it occurs principally in the open forest with much undergrowth, but also flies in the thick primeval forest.Karl Jordan in Seitz.Seitz, A. Band 9: Abt. 2, Die exotischen Großschmetterlinge, Die indo-australischen Tagfalter, 1927, 1197 Seiten 177 Tafeln pdf
Subspecies Papilio woodfordi woodfordi (Bougainville, Shortland Islands) Papilio woodfordi choiseuli Rothschild (Choiseul) Papilio woodfordi laarchus Godman & Salvin, 1888 (New Georgia Group) Papilio woodfordi ariel Grose-Smith, 1889 (Santa Isabel)
Taxonomy Papilio woodfordi is a member of the aegeus species group. The clade members are: Papilio aegeus Donovan, 1805 Papilio bridgei Mathew, 1886 ? Papilio erskinei Mathew, 1886 Papilio gambrisius Cramer, Papilio inopinatus Butler, 1883 Papilio ptolychus Godman & Salvin, 1888 Papilio tydeus C. & R. Felder, 1860 Papilio weymeri Niepelt, 1914 Papilio woodfordi Godman & Salvin, 1888
Biology The larvae feed on Citrus species.
References
External links
Butterfly Corner Images from Naturhistorisches Museum Wien