Lime Swallowtail

The Lime Swallowtail is perhaps the most common butterfly in the whole wide world with a range that is still increasing thanks to an accidental introduction in the Western Hemisphere. Couple this with the fact that their preferred host plants are lime, orange, lemon and other citrus trees and you have a pest that can cause serious damage. They are also distinct in having a rather variable flight pattern that seem to depend upon the time of day. Along the Himalayas, these guys are more often found in the lower hills and keep to open country and urban environment. Lime is regarded as one of the most common swallowtails found all over the country. The wings of this butterfly are set in black with large patches of white around the middle and small dots nearby edges. Both male and female are seen to be similar except for a red marking below the abdomen which has a blue tinted eye in females. Both sexes are yellow in color underneath. There are several black marks and irregularly shaped spots of turquoise or golden color.