Protographium leosthenes (Four-bar Swordtail)
Protographium leosthenes, also called Four-bar Swordtail is a butterfly from . The first description was in 1846 by Doubleday. The wingspan is about 5 – 6 cm. This butterfly is a member of the family PAPILIONIDAE. The basic colour of Protographium leosthenes is white. Black stripes dominate the wings. The hind wings have long tails.
Photos for easy identification
The fore wings are white. Four black stripes dominate the wing. The outer edge of the wing is black and contains a white stripe.
The underside of Protographium leosthenes is very similar to the upside. But, the stripes and the outer edge are brown.
The hind wings of Protographium leosthenes are white and they have long tails. The edge is wavy. In the middle of the wing there are two black stripes. The outer edge is black and contains a chain of white spots. Some redish spots are on the wing.
The underside is very similar to the upside.
The body (abdomen) is black. The thorax and the head are black. The underside of all parts is white.
Sex differences: ---
Protographium leosthenes is a butterfly from the Australasia / Indomalaya (Australia) ecozone. You can observe this butterfly in Australia.
- Desmos wardianus
- Melodorum leichhardtii
- Melodorum rupestrum
- Melodorum uhrii
The first description of this butterfly was in 1846 by Doubleday. There is only one subspecies.
- Protographium leosthenes geimbia [Tindale, 1927]
Only this member of the genus Protographium is found in this ecozone.
Protection provisions / Red List
- CITES: (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora):
- EU regulation on trading with species of wild Fauna and Flora
- IUCN Red List of threatened species:
Similar and closely-related species
Protographium leosthenes Doubleday 1846
Classification / Taxonomy / Family tree
- Kingdom: ANIMALIA
- Phylum: ARTHROPODA
- Class: INSECTA
- Order: LEPIDOPTERA
- Suborder: DITRYSIA
- Superfamily: PAPILIONOIDEA
- Family: PAPILIONIDAE
- Subfamilie: PAPILIONINAE
- Tribe: LEPTOCIRCINI
- Genus: PROTOGRAPHIUM
- Specific name: LEOSTHENES