Green-banded Swallowtail

Afrikaans name: Groenlint-swaelstert

Photo © Steven Herbert

Papilio nireus

I have a problem with the name of the Green-banded Swallowtail. The books describe the band as blue-green (not green) and to me it looks blue (not green) but maybe its just my eyes...

They are large and distinctive butterflies that can have a wing-span of 8 cm.

The Green-banded Swallowtail flies fast but it may be seen settling on mud, some flowers and even fresh dung.

These butterflies occur all the way up the east coast from around Port Elizabeth. They may also be found in the north-eastern regions of South Africa.

References and further reading

Living Butterflies of Southern Africa - Volume 1 - Author: G.A. Henning et al - Published: 1997 - Page: 228

Ivor Migdolls Field Guide to the Butterflies of Southern Africa - Author: Ivor Migdoll - Published: 1987 - Page: 236

Field Guide to Insects of South Africa - Author: Mike Picker, Charles Griffiths and Alan Weaving - Published: 0 - Page: 376

Gardening for Butterflies - Author: Steve Woodhall & Lindsay Gray - Published: 2015 - Page: 79

Field Guide to Butterflies of South Africa - 2nd edition - Author: Steve Woodhall - Published: 2020 - Page: 374

Field Guide to Butterflies of South Africa - 1st edition - Author: Steve Woodhall - Published: 2005 - Page: 352

Butterfly Gardening in South Africa - Author: Jill Reid - Published: 2000 - Page: 49

Butterfly Gardening in South Africa - Author: Jill Reid - Published: 2000 - Page: 76

Familiar South African Butterflies - Author: Clive Quickelberge - Published: 1986 - Page: 52

Butterflies of the Western Cape - Author: A.J.M. Claassens - Published: 2005 - Page: 62

Butterflies of the Kruger National Park - Author: Johan Kloppers and the late Dr. G. Van Son - Published: 1978 - Page: 7

Butterflies of Southern Africa - Author: Hugo Germishuys - Published: 1982 - Page: 29

Butterflies of Southern Africa - A field guide - Author: Mark Williams - Published: 1994 - Page: 28

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