The Japanese Swallowtail is a butterfly native to East Asia with pale wings, black stripes, blue marks, and short tails. Its caterpillars feed on citrus leaves, resemble bird droppings when young, and turn green in their final stage.

Appearance

Appearance
Pale yellow bands run through the dark base of the forewings, and the hindwings have blue markings and short tails.

Where it lives

Typical habitats
  • Hawaiian gardens
  • citrus plantings
Range
Within the United States, it is established in Hawaii; the species is native to East Asia.
Preferred conditions
Adults visit flowers, while females seek young citrus-family leaves for egg laying.
When it’s recorded

Recorded year-round, every year

228 observations in the US · 10 years · for reference

Behavior

Diet
Adults sip nectar from flowers, while caterpillars eat young citrus leaves in Hawaii.

Life cycle

Larva
Young caterpillars resemble bird droppings; the final caterpillar stage is green.
Caterpillar food plants
In Hawaii, eggs and caterpillars have been found on citrus plants.

Connected species

Caterpillar food plants
  • citrusCitrus

    In Hawaii, eggs and caterpillars have been found on citrus, and caterpillars eat the young leaves.

Name and classification

About the name
It is also called the Asian swallowtail.

Conservation

IUCN Red List
NENot EvaluatedNot yet assessed
12 sources
  1. iNaturalist taxon API: Papilio xuthus
  2. GBIF species match: Papilio xuthus
  3. Insect Fauna of Korea, Butterflies I
  4. 호랑나비(Papilio xuthus)의 생육특성에 관한 연구
  5. ナミアゲハの生態や観察のポイント
  6. Papilio xuthus (Papilionidae) in Hawaii
  7. 한국 국가적색목록: 호랑나비
  8. Asian Swallowtail — Butterflies and Moths of North America
  9. Butterflies of Hawaii — Butterflies and Moths of North America
  10. ナミアゲハ — 奈良教育大学
  11. 호랑나비 — 농촌진흥청 씨앗은행
  12. Sugar receptor response of the food-canal taste sensilla in a nectar-feeding swallowtail butterfly, Papilio xuthus
Japanese Swallowtail (Papilio xuthus) — identification, habitat & look-alikes | Moeyo