SUMMER: Papilio xuthus PUPAE

One of the citrus-feeding swallowtails, this species are typically easy to keep and breed, though if you are keeping them caged indoors you will likely need to hand feed them. Swallowtails typically do not drink from fruit like other species, so live flowers or honey solution must be provided for adults to feed.

Host plants include citrus, Choisya, Skimmia, Rue, Zanthoxylum, Phellodendron, Tetradium. Adult butterflies perform and breed very well in moderately bright conditions, even flying on overcast days in the butterfly house. Larvae are curiously camouflaged as bird droppings in the early instars, then in the final stage they resemble small snakes with vivid eye markings. Pupae are formed facing upwards, typical of swallowtails but different to many species that are suspended upside down, and are usually in shades of green and grey, mimicking leaves and stems. Swallowtails typically live for 2-3 weeks as adults, though some species can live 6-8.