Try for Free
tab list
Picture Insect
English
arrow
English
繁體中文
日本語
Español
Français
Deutsch
Pусский
Português
Italiano
한국어
Nederlands
العربية
Home Application Download FAQ
English
English
繁體中文
日本語
Español
Français
Deutsch
Pусский
Português
Italiano
한국어
Nederlands
العربية
Icon about
About
Icon about
General Info
Icon about
Search Tips
Icon about
Harmful or Not
Icon about
Beneficial Effects
Icon about
Common FAQs
Icon about
Similar Insects
Icon about
Popular Insects
Asian swallowtail

Asian swallowtail

Papilio xuthus

A species of Swallowtails, Also known as Xuthus swallowtail, Citrus swallowtail

The asian swallowtail (Papilio xuthus) is a beautiful yellow and black butterfly that is pretty common. Regardless, they try and mix it up by having multiple mates during their lifetime. This habit gives them a greater chance of genetic diversity. They want to ensure their kids grow up in a good neighborhood, so they keep an eye out for habitat and food quality when looking for a place to lay their eggs.

General Info About Asian swallowtail
Instantly identify insects with a snap
Snap a photo for instant insect ID and risk assessment, gaining quick insights on bite assessment, toxicity, pest control, behavior, habitat, and safe interaction tips, etc.
Download the App for Free
Rectangle
Attributes of Asian swallowtail
Colors
Black
Yellow
Blue
Orange
Habitat
urban; suburban; forest; orange orchard
Adult Food Sources
Nectar from lantana, nectar from jasminum, nectar from buddleja, nectar from abelia, nectar from ixora
Larva Food Source
Citrus leaves, japanese prickly ash leaves, skimmia japonica leaves, zanthoxylum piperitum leaves, poncirus trifoliata leaves
Biting/stinging
Not reported
Allergy-causing
Not reported
Defensive attack
Not reported
Venomous
Not reported
Non-poisonous
The Asian swallowtail is non-toxic and generally doesn't pose a risk to human health. No need for excessive worry.
Borer
Not reported
Pollinator
The Asian swallowtail is often found near the corolla, where its fluffy hairs easily pick up pollen, assisting in the pollination of the plant.
Pest-Eating Predatory
Not reported
qrcode
Img download isoImg download android
Rectangle
Appearance of Asian swallowtail
The asian swallowtail is a mid-sized, yellow, prominently-tailed butterfly. It has a wingspan of 4.5 - 6 cm. Its normal color pattern consists of a black pattern on a yellow background. Wing coloration is sexually dimorphic, with females showing broader proximal marginal bands in the hindwing. Blue-iridesecent and orange scales separate the black bands on the hindwing. The caterpillars have a light green body color with brown spots.
ImageImageImageImageImage

How to Identify Asian swallowtail?

Rectangle
Life Cycle of Asian swallowtail
Egg The egg is the initial phase, wherein the asian swallowtail is immobile, round or oval-shaped, often laid on plants, showing little to no activity except for the internal development gearing towards hatching.
Larva As a larva, the asian swallowtail is wormlike, with a primary focus on feeding and growth. It lacks wings, exhibits drastic size increases, features a soft exoskeleton, and may have distinctive colors or patterns.
Pupal During pupation, the asian swallowtail is encased within a chrysalis, where it is immobile and undergoes significant transformation. This is a transition phase where tissues reorganize, preparing for adulthood.
Adult Emerging from the pupa, the adult asian swallowtail’s development is marked by the presence of wings and functional reproductive organs. The body is fully formed and hardened, and the adult is mobile, focusing on reproduction.
Rectangle
Adult Size of Asian swallowtail
4.5 - 6 cm
Rectangle
Predators of Asian swallowtail Larvae
Birds, rodents, reptiles, certain arthropods such as beetles and ants
Rectangle
Predators of Adult Asian swallowtail
Birds, spiders, rodents, mantis, wasps
Rectangle
Interesting Facts About Asian swallowtail
Asian swallowtail can taste with its feet, allowing immediate assessment of whether the leaves it lands on are suitable for laying eggs.
Rectangle
Scientific Classification of Asian swallowtail
Tips for Finding Asian swallowtail
Your ultimate guide to understanding insects
Unlock the secrets of insect life cycles, habitats, behaviors and observation tips!!
Download the App for Free
Rectangle
How Can You Attract Asian swallowtail
For butterflies like asian swallowtail, sweet substances or rotting fruit can be used as traps, since adults are typically nectar feeders.
Rectangle
Habitat Preferences of Asian swallowtail Through Different Life Stages
The eggs of asian swallowtail are commonly found on the underside of host plant leaves. Caterpillars of asian swallowtail, after hatching, remain on these plants, consuming leaves, and therefore are frequently observed in the same habitats as the plants they feed on, like gardens or meadows. Pupae often attach themselves to stems or leaves in sheltered areas to undergo metamorphosis. Adults, being highly mobile, are typically found in open areas where they feed on nectar from a variety of flowers. To find these stages, one would inspect appropriate host plants for eggs and caterpillars, seek shielded spots for pupae, and search flowering areas for adults.
Rectangle
When is the Best Time to Observe Asian swallowtail
The best time to find adult asian swallowtail is on sunny days when they are most active, usually mid-morning to early afternoon.
Rectangle
What is the Best Weather to Observe Asian swallowtail
Ideal weather conditions to find asian swallowtail would include warm temperatures and low winds, as this creature is less active in cold or rainy conditions.
Rectangle
How and Where Can You Find Asian swallowtail at Different Life Stages
Egg Asian swallowtail eggs are usually laid on the host plants. Look for tiny, spherical or oval-shaped eggs on the undersides of leaves, especially on citrus plants.
Larva Asian swallowtail caterpillars can often be found on the host plants they feed on. Search for them by inspecting the leaves, stems, and flowers of citrus trees for any signs of feeding or direct sight of the caterpillars.
Pupal Asian swallowtail chrysalises may be attached to plants or other structures near the host plants. Check on branches, twigs, or even the walls and fences in the vicinity of host plants where they may affix themselves to undergo metamorphosis.
Adult Asian swallowtail butterflies are usually seen flying in areas with abundant flowering plants. You can find them by visiting gardens, meadows, or fields where flowers are present, and they can often be spotted feeding on nectar or basking in the sun.
Are Asian swallowtail harmful?
Your Complete Pest Control Guide
Discover effective tips for preventing and eliminating pest infestations to keep bugs away from your home.
Download the App for Free

Usually, the asian swallowtail won't threaten or hurt humans. But remember that even a worm will turn. Remember to still be cautious.

Rectangle

Are Asian swallowtail harmful to humans?

They are not a poisonous butterfly, but they have a special gland that secretes bad smells and chemicals.
Beneficial Effects of Asian swallowtail
Discover the hidden benefits of insects
Explore how insects help as pollinators, pest predators, and biocontrol agents. From seed dispersal to decomposition, they play vital roles in our ecosystem.
Download the App for Free
Pollinator
Pollinator
Attract Plant Feature
Color, Shape
Pollination Behavior Reason
Collect Pollen To Feed Offspring
Asian swallowtail is an effective agent of pollination often seen fluttering from flower to flower. Its preference for colors and shapes leads it to favor certain plants like Asteraceae and fruit trees. While collecting pollen, asian swallowtail unintentionally transfers it, aiding in plant reproduction.
Common Questions People Also Ask
Get Quick Insect Answers with a Snap
Snap a photo for instant insect ID and answers on bites, toxicity, pest control, behavior, habitat, and safety tips!
Download the App for Free
More Insects that are Similar to Asian swallowtail
White-crescent swallowtail
White-crescent swallowtail

Mimoides thymbraeus, the white-crescent swallowtail, is a species of butterfly in the family Papilionidae. It is found from Mexico to El Salvador and Honduras, where it is widespread and common.

Read More
Arrow
Chinese windmill
Chinese windmill

Adorned with wings that showcase a mesmerizing canvas of black and iridescent blue, chinese windmill flutters through temperate forests and grassland biomes. The undersides of its wings reveal a mottled pattern of grey and white, thought to offer camouflage among foliage. As a caterpillar, it is equally impressive with a specialized diet primarily consisting of Aristolochia plant species, but this diet diverges greatly once it transforms, with the adult preferring the nectar of a varied bouquet of flora.

Read More
Arrow
Common windmill
Common windmill

Length 110 to 140 mm Sexes alike Black and white above with prominent swallowtail Red bodied - tail has a red tip Forewings completely black above and below Hindwings crenulated deeply twice on each side of swallowtail. Large oblong white discal spot in 5 (both upperside and underside) and sometimes in 4. Upperside hindwing has irregular marginal red crescents in 1a, 2 and 3 and a small white spot in 4.

Read More
Arrow
White dragontail
White dragontail

A denizen of the Asian tropics, white dragontail presents a delicate, almost ethereal appearance with its translucid wings edged in a contrasting hue. These creatures undergo a remarkable transformation from voracious, leaf-munching larvae to nectar-sipping aerial acrobats, with adults often seen fluttering in sunlit clearings, partaking in the bounty of wildflowers.

Read More
Arrow
Green dragontail
Green dragontail

Characterized by a striking contrast of colors, green dragontail displays a remarkable wing pattern that enhances its visibility among the foliage. As an adult, it unfurls wings that serve both as a display to potential mates and as a warning to predators. The larval form of this creature exhibits an entirely different approach to survival, with a diet focused on certain host plants, which they consume voraciously to fuel their transformation into the elegant aerial adults.

Read More
Arrow
Common clubtail
Common clubtail

Adorned with wings that showcase a dramatic contrast of black and creamy-white, common clubtail features vibrant red and blue eye-catching markings which deter predators. The larvae are distinctly equipped with fleshy spines and feed on host plants, undergoing remarkable transformation to become nectar-imbibing adults, fluttering amongst flowering landscapes. This delicate dance of metamorphosis and vivid colors is a captivating spectacle of nature's artistry.

Read More
Arrow
Yellow Gorgon
Yellow Gorgon

Meandrusa payeni, the yellow gorgon, is a species of swallowtail found in parts of South Asia and Southeast Asia. It belongs to the hooked swallowtails genus, Meandrusa, of the family Papilionidae. It is also called the outlet sword or the sickle.

Read More
Arrow
Variable cattleheart
Variable cattleheart

The upper side of the wings is black with a row of red postmedian spots. The underside of the wings is also black with a row of pink and whitish spots.

Read More
Arrow
Other Popular Insects
Western honey bee
Western honey bee

Western honey bee(Apis mellifera) is the most common species of honeybee in the world. Among the first domesticated insects, its cultural and economic impact on humanity has been vast and far-reaching, providing honey, wax and its services as a pollinator. Western honey bee faces challenges worldwide, such as colony collapse disorder, and populations are thought to be decreasing.

Read More
Arrow
Monarch butterfly
Monarch butterfly

The monarch butterfly (Danaus plexippus) is the most recognizable butterfly in North America. It is best known for its appearance, but should be better known for the fact that it has a 3000-mile migration that takes the butterfly 4 generations to complete. Their diet is also a natural deterrent for predators, as they eat milkweed, a poison that induces vomiting.

Read More
Arrow
Japanese rhinoceros beetle
Japanese rhinoceros beetle

The japanese rhinoceros beetle (Trypoxylus dichotomus) is a massive beetle about the size of the palm of a hand. It's distinguished by its long Y-shaped horn, which it uses to fight other males with. It's a nocturnal bug that feeds on sap and sweet fruits. This species is sometimes kept as a pet due to its unique appearance and simple care requirements.

Read More
Arrow
Silkworm
Silkworm

The silken threads produced by silkworm during its larval stage have been highly coveted for millennia, manifesting as a luxurious fabric in human society. Remarkably, this creature has a singular diet, feeding exclusively on the leaves of its primary host plant from which it extracts the necessary nutrients to facilitate its transition into a non-feeding, winged adult.

Read More
Arrow
Menelaus blue morpho
Menelaus blue morpho

Menelaus blue morpho (Morpho menelaus) is a gorgeous butterfly with large, royal blue wings. Linnaeus named the genus Morpho the Aphrodite-Ancient Greek goddess of love and beauty for its extreme beauty. It is native to tropical rainforests. Though many butterfly gardens now cultivate them in captivity, there are still many people who never get a chance to see them.

Read More
Arrow
Atlas moth
Atlas moth

While the atlas moth (Attacus atlas) can't tell you where to find your country on the map, it does earn its name through other means. It is one of the largest moths in the world, with a wingspan that is far larger than its body, creating an abnormal comparison. In India, their silk is gathered in a non-commercial capacity and is considered to be more durable than the domestic silkworm.

Read More
Arrow
Flying peacock spider
Flying peacock spider

Both sexes reach about 5 mm in body length. Females and immatures of both sexes are brown but have color patterns by which they can be distinguished from related species. Also, the males dance to attract females.

Read More
Arrow
Multicolored asian ladybeetle
Multicolored asian ladybeetle

Often confused for the ladybug, multicolored asian ladybeetle (Harmonia axyridis) is a separate species that, unlike the ladybug, is a household pest. It is considered particularly annoying for its habit of returning to places from which it is removed. One of the most variable species in the world, there are many different colors and patterns multicolored asian ladybeetle may display, making identification potentially difficult.

Read More
Arrow