Diet

• Caterpillars feed on plants in the citrus family (Rutaceae).

• Eggs are generally laid on young leaves and shoots. The caterpillars can be highly variable in colour during development, ranging from brown or orange to green and finally dark, with pale markings.

• Adults feed primarily on flower nectar and also visit damp ground to obtain minerals.

Range

• Heraclides anchisiades has a very broad Neotropical distribution, extending from southern Texas through Mexico and Central America to South America and northern Argentina.

• It is widespread in Mexico, including Guerrero, and occurs in the Zihua area.

Habitat

• The Ruby-spotted Swallowtail is found in tropical and subtropical woodland, forest edges, clearings, secondary vegetation, gardens, orchards and cultivated areas.

• Citrus groves and gardens can support populations because cultivated citrus provides suitable larval food plants.

• Adults are also attracted to muddy or damp ground, where they may gather to obtain dissolved minerals.

Description

• This is a large swallowtail, generally with a wingspan of about 70–100 mm.

• The wings are predominantly dark brown to black. The forewings are relatively plain, while the hindwings have conspicuous reddish-pink to red spots arranged in rows.

• The hindwings usually lack the long, prominent tails seen in many other Heraclides. The outer hindwing margin instead has short, tooth-like projections, although females can occasionally have somewhat more pronounced extensions.

• A pale or whitish spot may occur near the end of the forewing cell. Females can show additional pale or yellowish markings, making them somewhat more variable in appearance than males.

• The combination of large size, dark wings, red hindwing spots and the absence of long hindwing tails is particularly useful for distinguishing it from other large Heraclides in western Mexico.