Papilionidae : Papilioninae

Heraclides andraemon Hübner, [1823]
Bahaman Swallowtail
Picture
Heraclides andraemon Bahaman Swallowtail ups 6 Jan 2014 Guantanamo © David Kohl
Description and Similar Species: Wingspan 80-108mm. Sexes similar. One of four resident species of Swallowtail with brown wings with a yellow band that in this species terminates half way down the length of the hindwing. Oviedo's Swallowtail H. oviedo is larger, has the yellow cross bar terminating at the base of the hindwing and in flight it also has the appearance of being much yellower as the underside is largely yellow. Dusky Swallowtail H. ponceana is also slightly larger and but has a paler brown background giving it a washed out appearance and has narrow all brown tails. Both H. andraemon and H. oviedo have spatulate tails with yellow centres. The other confusion species is female Androgeus Swallowtail H. androgeus but here the yellow bar is much broader than the other three and covers the whole base of the hindwing.
Range: Bahamas, Cuba, Cayman Islands and Florida.
Status: The commonest swallowtail on Cuba and found in most habitats.
Nectar Plants: Bidens pilosa, Bougainvillea, Lantana, Bourreria divaricata.
Larval Foodplants: Various Citrus, Zanthoxylum and Ruta sp. (all Rutaceae) and can be a pest.
Egg
Larva
Foodplants and Habitat