Thursday, April 27, 2017

Papilio polytes: Common Mormon Butterfly

 This tropical swallowtail, Papilio polytes, or Common Mormorn butterfly is widely distributed across Asia.
It mimics the toxic species Red-bodied Swallowtails (Pachiopta polydorous) and several other red- bodied and inedible species.
This mimicry is evident in the female which is polymorphic...
wiki photo




This beautiful female was seen nectaring in the tropical garden of the Furama Resort Danang, Vietnam
Proof is, as always, in the binomial ....  Papilio means butterfly in Greek ... polytes means many.  Thus Mormon is reference to the practice of many different wives! 
Lots of interesting things to see when traveling....keep your eyes open and camera ready!


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