Now rare Drury's Swallowtail butterfly specimen, Melitaea diamina, Zarmoxis

Scientific Name: Papilio antimachus

The Japanese common name is derived from the describer of the scientific name, but it is also sometimes called the Antimachus Swallowtail based on the scientific name.

Inhabits the rainforest regions of Africa (from Sierra Leone to Uganda).

With a wingspan of 24 cm (males), it is the largest in Africa and one of the largest butterfly species overall due to the length and breadth of its forewings.

The wings are orange and black. Unlike many other butterflies, females are much smaller than males, and while males are seen in large numbers, females are rarely encountered. This is a characteristic shared with the Zalmoxis Swallowtail, another large butterfly endemic to Africa.

The host plant for the larvae is unknown, but it is said that adults possess enough poison to kill a cat. It is speculated that, like the Pipevine Swallowtail species, they feed on poisonous plants and retain this toxicity into adulthood, which is why their wing coloration serves as a conspicuous warning.

We apologize, but we cannot guarantee against grading down due to shipping. Please understand this in advance.
The specimen pictured from the Central African Republic will be shipped. It was collected in October 2018.