Papilionidae is a family of more than 600 species of diurnal, heliophilous butterflies of medium to large size. The wings are large, compact and rounded, with the hind wings often concavely shaped on the inside and tapering to one or more spurs of varying width. The body is small compared to the wings, the head small and the eyes bare and ocelli are absent. The legs are long and thin, with the feet furnished with two claws. The front pair of legs is well developed in both sexes. The proboscis remains functional through adult life. The caterpillars vary from hairless to hairy and spiny, but all have a forked tubercle just behind the head, which is conspicuously coloured and has a pungent odour. Research Papilionidae
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Matt and Leela Probert
Abbreviations
Nature
Research Papilionidae
