Papilio thoas, the king swallowtail or Thoas swallowtail, is a butterfly of the family Papilionidae. It is found in the southernmost United States, Mexico, Central America and South America (as far south as Argentina and Uruguay). The species is easily confused with the giant swallowtail, which it closely resembles in both larval and adult stages. The caterpillars feed on the leaves of citrus plants (Rutaceae). They have also been reported as feeding on a member of the genus Piper.
Adult Thoas swallowtails fly year round in the tropics, feeding on nectar of a variety of flowers, including Lantana, Stachytarpheta, and Bougainvillea among other species. The wingspan is 100–130 mm.
Latin Name:
Papilio thoas
Quality:
A1
Sex:
Male
Distribution:
Peru
Frame Size:
8 x 8 inch
Please Be Aware:
The specimen that you will receive may differ in size, shape or colour very slightly since you are purchasing a natural product.
Where do we source our insect specimens?
All of our specimens are purchased from conservation farming projects. Please visit our ethics pages in the menu for details on the type of projects we work with.