Papilio rutulus

[lamprima2]

Found a huge greenish pupa on a willow branch back in January. The female eclosed in mid-April. This is a common butterfly in California, however, the size of that specimen is above my expectations: about 99-100 mm wingspan in the "standard" spread position.

DSC_6213 IN.jpg (375.8 KiB) Viewed 615 times

[Trehopr1]

Outstanding specimen !

Very nicely done on the spreading !

[livingplanet3]

Superb!

[lamprima2]

Thank you both!

[lamprima2]

Unfortunately, I've damaged the right forewing - Murphy's law.
The wingspan is exactly 100 mm in the dried specimen.

Papilio rutulus. 100 mm. IN.jpg (753.5 KiB) Viewed 167 times

[kevinkk]

Always nice. X- pupa, or earlier.
Those damages happen to all of us. Raise them for weeks or longer, wait, then hope you can dispatch them, spread and get it into a case without
breaking something off. More than once I went from flawless to arrgh.
I just realized, I have a new set of calipers. Perhaps I'll try them on the male rutulus I have on the board, an X-ova which I let hatch indoors a weeks ago.

Just over 90 mm for the male I have.

[Trehopr1]

That is a picture perfect example in my humble opinion.
You should be very proud of its exceptional condition.
Well done....

[lamprima2]

kevinkk and Trehopr1,
Thank you both for your words of consolation. 
P. rutulus is a pretty common butterfly in CA,
I hope to get more in the future.

[adamcotton]

I would be very happy to have a super specimen like that, despite the tiny rub mark on the right forewing.

Adam.

[wollastoni]

Wonderful specimen indeed, congrats.

[bobw]

Such a minor mark doesn't detract in any way from it being a perfect specimen.

[lamprima2]

I felt like a kid who broke his favorite toy.
I am a proud owner of an exciting specimen now,
- thank you all for your comments!