Bug FAQLime Swallowtail
Papilio demoleus · Order: Lepidoptera · Family: Papilionidae
Also called: Checkered Swallowtail, Chequered Swallowtail, Citrus Swallowtail, Dingy Swallowtail
Source: Wikipedia
The lime swallowtail is a medium-sized, tailless butterfly with a wingspan of about 80 to 100 mm. It is black above with a broad, irregular yellow band and many spots, plus a red-blue tornal spot on the hindwing. It lives across a wide range of Asian and Australian countries and feeds on citrus plants, especially lime.
Source: Wikipedia
How to recognize it
The upper side is black with a wide, uneven yellow band that breaks on the forewing and many irregular spots; the hindwing has a red spot near the tornus edged in blue.
Source: Wikipedia
Size
Adults have a wingspan of roughly 80 to 100 mm and lack tail extensions.
Source: Wikipedia
How to get rid of it
Hand-picking caterpillars and spraying with endosulfan were once recommended, but endosulfan is now banned.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it lives
It occurs in many countries from the Middle East through South and Southeast Asia to Australia and many Pacific islands.
Source: Wikipedia
What it eats
Caterpillars feed mainly on citrus species, especially cultivated lime.
Source: Wikipedia
Life cycle
Adult males live about four days and females about a week.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it comes from
The species is native to Asia and Australia.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it is found in the US
Recorded in 2 of 51 states and DC. Most records: California, Florida.
Darker = more records. Counts are museum and citizen-science records, not population size.
Source: GBIF
Status: introduced in North America; introduced in Canada; introduced in United States. Source: iNaturalist
More photos
Questions people ask
Is the lime swallowtail a garden pest?
Yes, its larvae feed on citrus trees and can damage lime and other citrus crops.
Source: Wikipedia
Where can I find a lime swallowtail?
It is found across a broad area from the Middle East through South and Southeast Asia to Australia and many Pacific islands.
Source: Wikipedia
Same family (Papilionidae)
Sources
- Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Papilio_demoleus
Look it up elsewhere: GBIF · iNaturalist · BugGuide · Wikipedia
Text written 2026-10-22 from the sources above and checked sentence by sentence against them. Data fetched 2026-10-22.