Short-lined kite swallowtail facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Short-lined kite swallowtail |
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| Mounted specimen from Colombia | |
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| E. a. agesilaus underside Cristalino River, Southern Amazon, Brazil |
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The short-lined kite swallowtail (scientific name: Eurytides agesilaus) is a beautiful, medium-sized butterfly. It belongs to the family of butterflies known as Papilionidae, which are often called swallowtails.
Contents
What it Looks Like
This butterfly has a wingspan of about 70 to 80 millimeters. That's about the length of a typical smartphone! Its front wings are shaped like triangles. The back wings have long, thin tails that look a bit like swords.
The main color of its wings is a pretty greenish-white. On the front wings, you'll see seven black stripes. There's also a black mark with two red spots near the edges. These red spots have white borders.
If you look at the underside of its back wings, you'll find two black and red lines. Female butterflies look very similar to males. However, females have slightly larger pale spots near the edges of their back wings. You can easily tell them apart because the red line on the hindwing has a black edge on the outer side.
Life and Habits
The young butterflies, called larvae or caterpillars, enjoy eating a plant called Rollinia emarginata. This plant is their main food source as they grow.
Where it Lives
You can find the short-lined kite swallowtail in many countries. It mainly lives in parts of Central and South America. These include Mexico, Costa Rica, Panama, Nicaragua, Ecuador, Colombia, Venezuela, Brazil, Peru, Bolivia, and Paraguay.
Different Types of Short-lined Kite Swallowtails
This butterfly species has several different types, called subspecies. They might look a little different depending on where they live. Here are some of them:
- Eurytides agesilaus agesilaus (found in Colombia and northern Venezuela)
- Eurytides agesilaus eimeri (found in Costa Rica, Panama, and western Colombia)
- Eurytides agesilaus fortis (found in western Mexico)
- Eurytides agesilaus neosilaus (found from Mexico to Nicaragua)
- Eurytides agesilaus autosilaus (found from Venezuela to Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Bolivia)
- Eurytides agesilaus montanum (found in northern Peru)
- Eurytides agesilaus viridis (found in northern Bolivia, Brazil, and Paraguay)
Current Status
Good news! The short-lined kite swallowtail is a common butterfly. It is not considered to be in danger of disappearing.
What's in a Name?
The scientific name agesilaus comes from an ancient Greek king. His name was Agesilaus. Naming species after historical figures or myths is a common practice in science.
See also
In Spanish: Protographium agesilaus para niños
