Paris Peacock Swallowtail
Papilio paris
The dazzling metallic green-blue patches on its wings contain no pigment at all; the color is produced structurally by microscopic scales that refract light.
- Scientific name
- Papilio paris
- Taxonomy
- Animalia › Arthropoda › Insecta › Lepidoptera › Papilionidae › Papilio
- IUCN Red List status
- Least Concern
- Population trend
- stable
- Biome
- forest
- Habitat
- Subtropical and tropical moist lowland and montane forests
- Diet
- Adults drink nectar from flowering plants; caterpillars feed on host plants in the Rutaceae (citrus) family.
- Range
- India, Nepal, Myanmar, China, Taiwan, Thailand, Vietnam
- Size
- Wingspan of 8 to 14 cm (3.1 to 5.5 inches).
- Lifespan
- 2 to 4 weeks as an adult, with a total life cycle of about 2 months.
- Active
- diurnal
- Threats
- Deforestation, heavy pesticide use in agricultural borders, and localized over-collection for the specimen trade.
- Safe to approach?
- This butterfly is completely harmless. Observe it quietly from a short distance as it feeds on nectar or mud-puddles. Do not attempt to catch or touch it, as its wings are highly fragile and the scales can rub off easily, hindering its ability to fly.
Papilio paris , the Paris peacock , is a species of swallowtail butterfly found in the Indian subcontinent and Southeast Asia.
Photo: Andrew Lai, CC-BY, via iNaturalist
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