Plate 050 · male drinking salts from a wet rock IdentificationFive marks on the plate
- 1Diagonal yellow band of spots, crossing the forewing.
- 2Row of yellow dots near the wing edge.
- 3Broad yellow band on the hindwing, next to the body.
- 4Yellow-centred tails on the hindwings.
- 5Blue and orange spots near the inner angle.
Easily confused with Broad-banded SwallowtailHeraclides astyalusBroader, unbroken yellow band; also found in Tucumán. 050 / 100 · INVERTEBRATES · PAPILIONIDAENOT EVALUATED Thoas Swallowtail
Heraclides thoas
Limonera grande · King Swallowtail
It is one of the largest butterflies of the Tucumán forest: black with a yellow band crossing all four wings. Males gather on damp rocks and mud by streams to sip salts. The caterpillar looks like a bird dropping.
- Wingspan
- c. 10 – 13 cm
- Larval plants
- citrus family and peppers
- Family
- Papilionidae (swallowtails)
- Caterpillar defence
- red osmeterium
- Large butterfly
- Mud-puddler
- Camouflaged caterpillar
- Flower visitor
Altitude rangeLower forest and edges
Most frequent (approx.) It is common in the foothills, ravines and gardens of Yerba Buena. It follows river valleys upward; the upper limit is approximate.
FoodNectar, salts and leaves
- Nectarfrom forest-edge flowers
- Damp mud and rocksmineral salts · males
- Citrus-family leavesZanthoxylum, citrus · caterpillar
- Piper leavespepper family · caterpillar
Adults feed at flowers. The caterpillar eats leaves of citrus-family and pepper-family plants.
BehaviourHigh, powerful flight
- Salt licks. Males suck water from mud or rocks to get sodium.
- Disguised caterpillar. Brown and white, it passes for a bird dropping on a leaf.
- Smelly horns. If disturbed, the caterpillar shoots out a red, forked organ with a strong smell.
Where to look in Tucumán- Sierra de San Javier
- Reserva Experimental Horco Molle
- Parque Provincial La Florida
- Quebrada de Lules