GRAPHIUM ANGOLANUS

GRAPHIUM ANGOLANUS (Graphium angolanus)

Phylum — arthropoda
Class — insecta
Order — lepidoptera
Family — papilionidae

Genus – graphium

Appearance

Newborn caterpillars are black with light spots on the back. The older caterpillars are green with yellow, white, and black ringed stripes. They have two horns on the head, on the front part of the body ― four needle-like black outgrowths, in addition, the caterpillars have two short tails. The larvae of the last instar are paler.

The wingspan is 65–70 mm in males and 70–75 mm in females. The main color of the wings is black, with small white spots scattered over it. There is a large white spot at the base of each wing. The underside of the wings is colored the same way, but the main color is brown.

Habitat

It is found in Sub-Saharan Africa.

Behavior

Graphium angolanus demonstrates daily activity. Males are often found in large groups when they absorb mineralized moisture from muddy paths and forest roads.

Like other caterpillars of this family, the caterpillar of this butterfly has an osmetrium – a gland behind the head that extends in danger and looks like two long orange-red "horns".

The flight period is year-round, peaking in November and February.

Diet

The caterpillars feed on Annona senegalensis, Sphedamnocarpus pruriens, Uvaria species, Landolphia buchannani, and Landolphia ugandensis.

The adults of this species will nectar from a variety of flowers.

Reproduction

For their reproduction you need a terrarium with a size of 50 x 50 x 70 cm. Eggs are laid singly on the upper surface of young leaves of the hostplant. It is better to keep the caterpillars in mesh terrariums of 6-8 pieces. In the terrarium, you need to place a forage plant. The temperature is 24-26 ^oC at the humidity of 60-70 %. The pupa is green. It has two small horns on the head. The life cycle takes about a month. The butterfly lives for 4 days.

In captivity

The mesh terrarium with a size of 50 × 50 × 70 mm is suitable for keeping butterflies. Room temperature is necessary. Daylight time is 12 hours. You can feed the butterflies with honey syrup diluted with boiled water in a ratio of 1: 10.