Three-tailed Swallowtail (Papilio pilumnus)

Order: Lepidoptera (le-pid-OP-ter-a) (Info) Family: Papilionidae (pap-ill-lee-ON-ih-dee) (Info) Genus: Papilio (pap-ILL-ee-oh) (Info) Species: pilumnus Profile: No positives 1 neutral No negatives Member Notes: Rating Author Comment Neutral Magpye On Aug 16, 2006, Magpye from NW Qtr, AR (Zone 6a) wrote: Identification: Upperside of both fore- and hindwings yellow with black basal band. Wings bordered by a black band with submarginal yellow stripe. Hindwing has 3 tails and 2 blue spots above the shortest tail. Life history: None reported. Flight: March-October in Mexico. Wing span: Not reported. Caterpillar hosts: Leaves of Litsea tree in Lauraceae family. Adult food: Flower nectar. Habitat: Tropical woodlands. Range: Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador; rarely strays into southern Texas.