Diet

• Adults: Visit flowers for nectar, particularly in sunny openings and along forest edges.

Range

• The Ilus Swallowtail occurs from western and eastern Mexico through Central America to Panama, northern Colombia, and Venezuela.

• It occurs in the Zihua area, where suitable forest-edge and tropical woodland habitat is available.

Habitat

• Found primarily in tropical and subtropical woodland, forest edges, clearings, foothills, and areas of relatively undisturbed vegetation.

• It tends to occur in warm, humid environments with a mixture of trees, shrubs, vines, and flowering plants.

• Adults can be rather inconspicuous when flying through shaded vegetation, despite their striking wing pattern.

Description

• A medium-sized swallowtail with a wingspan of approximately 65–75 mm.

• The wings are predominantly dark brown to black, with a distinctive large pale cream or whitish patch across the central forewing.

• The hindwing has a conspicuous reddish-orange patch, usually accompanied by a smaller pale marking. This combination of a pale forewing band and reddish hindwing patch gives the butterfly its distinctive appearance.

• The hindwings are strongly scalloped, with short tail-like projections that are less pronounced than those of many Papilio swallowtails.

• The underside is similar in general pattern but somewhat paler and more subdued.

• The dark wings have a subtle blue-green iridescence, particularly when viewed in good light.