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Stray Swallowtails
Posted: Sat Feb 24, 2024 5:09 am
by 58chevy
Occasionally some non-resident species will stray into the USA from Mexico and the Caribbean.
Here are a few nice ones, top to bottom:
Papilio astyalus
Eurytides philolaus
Papilio pilumnus
Re: Stray Swallowtails
Posted: Sat Feb 24, 2024 9:00 am
by adamcotton
58chevy wrote: Sat Feb 24, 2024 5:09 amPapilio astyalus
This was separated as
Papilio pallas by Lewis et al. (2014, Role of Caribbean Islands in diversification & biogeography of Neotropical
Heraclides swallowtails. DOI: 10.1111/cla.12092).
P. astyalus occurs in South not Central America.
Adam.
Re: Stray Swallowtails
Posted: Sat Feb 24, 2024 3:14 pm
by 58chevy
Thanks for the correction, Adam.
Re: Stray Swallowtails
Posted: Sat Feb 24, 2024 8:26 pm
by livingplanet3
58chevy wrote: Sat Feb 24, 2024 5:09 am
Occasionally some non-resident species will stray into the USA from Mexico and the Caribbean.
Here are a few nice ones, top to bottom:
Papilio astyalus
Eurytides philolaus
Papilio pilumnus...
Many thanks. While on the subject of stray Papilionidae: is it known whether Papilio anchisiades actually has an established population in South TX, or is it more likely that any adults seen on the US side of its range are all strays from Mexico? -

Re: Stray Swallowtails
Posted: Sun Feb 25, 2024 2:57 pm
by 58chevy
According to the Kaufman field guide, P anchisiades is "found mainly in extreme southern Texas, where it is apparently scarce or irregular, flying at various times from spring to late fall." Eggs & larvae have been found on the US side of the border, so it may be a part-time (not every year) resident.