Papilionidae : Papilioninae
Heraclides oviedo (Gundlach, 1866)
Oviedo's Swallowtail
Heraclides oviedo (Gundlach, 1866)
Oviedo's Swallowtail
Description and Similar Species: Wingspan 90-122mm. Sexes similar. 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. The main confusion species is the similar-sized but much scarcer Dusky Swallowtail H. aristodemus in which the the brown is a paler colour and which has narrow non-spatulate tails that lack the yellow 'insert'.
Range: Endemic to Cuba. This butterfly was split from the more widespread Heraclides thoas.
Status: Widespread in forested areas at all levels.
Nectar Plants: Asclepias curavassica, Tournefortia hirsutissima, Lantana, Euphorbia, Bauhinia as well as on muddy puddles.
Larval Foodplants: Primarily Piper (Pothomorphe) peltatum but also on other Piper eg P. umbellata, P. aduncum, and the introduced P. auritum as well as Ruta and Zanthoxylum.
Range: Endemic to Cuba. This butterfly was split from the more widespread Heraclides thoas.
Status: Widespread in forested areas at all levels.
Nectar Plants: Asclepias curavassica, Tournefortia hirsutissima, Lantana, Euphorbia, Bauhinia as well as on muddy puddles.
Larval Foodplants: Primarily Piper (Pothomorphe) peltatum but also on other Piper eg P. umbellata, P. aduncum, and the introduced P. auritum as well as Ruta and Zanthoxylum.
Egg
Larva
Foodplant and Habitat
