Letters From The Larvarium

Green-banded or Emerald swallowtail, Papilio palinurus

From South East Asia, the swallowtail larvae grow and feed on citrus leaves. They emerge from the cocoon with a wingspan of 8-10cm, and as such are quite swift in flight. Iridescent green bands on the dorsal side are the product of structural coloration. Like modern LED’s, this ‘diode’ butterfly’s scales refract light to produce blue and yellow reflections that when mixed are perceived as green.

Fast and flashy. The mid-life catastrophe lepidoptera.

A.V.