Butterflies and Moths of North America

collecting and sharing data about Lepidoptera

Three-tailed Swallowtail
Papilio pilumnus Boisduval, 1836


Family: Papilionidae
Subfamily: Papilioninae
Identification: Upperside of both fore- and hindwings yellow with black basal band. Wings bordered by a black band with submarginal yellow stripe. Hindwing has 3 tails and 2 blue spots above the shortest tail.
Wing Span: Not reported.
Life History: None reported.
Flight: March-October in Mexico.
Caterpillar Hosts: Leaves of Litsea tree in Lauraceae family.
Adult Food: Flower nectar.
Habitat: Tropical woodlands.
Range: Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador; rarely strays into southern Texas.
Conservation: Not required for tropical stray.
NCGR: G4 - Apparently secure globally, though it might be quite rare in parts of its range, especially at the periphery.
Management Needs: None noted.
Comments: NULL