Magic of Life - Butterfly House
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​MAGIC OF LIFE

BUTTERFLY HOUSE | ABERYSTWYTH

Green-Banded Swallowtail

Location: Tropical Butterflies / Asian Swallowtails / Green-Banded Swallowtail
Name: Green-Banded Swallowtail
Latin: Papilio Palinurus
Family: Papilionidae
Origin: S.E. Asia
Food plant: Citrus Family
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​Nothing new under the sun!

This is one of the 'diode' butterflies. The metallic sheens are reproduced by fluorescent pigments placed over reflective mirror-like structures. The overall effect is to intensify the colour. The latest LEDs - light-emitting diodes used in computer screens use the same idea. See the following here for more details.
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Changing colours. 

The sheen turns to a soft blue from behind.
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A green flash is all one mostly sees of this swift-flying swallowtail.

Up close, this butterfly is peppered with green scales either side of the main bands. It belongs to a large group of Asian swallowtails that all have green or blue iridescence. The adult butterfly rarely last longer than a week. Note the brown smudges on wings. This species emerges from its pupa with bronze-coloured wings which after about 15 minutes of emerging change to the luminous green of the mature imago. See the full-size image below of the finished colour taken just a few minutes later.
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Home
History
Staff
The butterfly symbol
​Other animals
The garden
What we do
The Butterflies
Insects and others
Location and prices
Schools and groups
Rheidol Valley
Local attractions
Changing attitudes
Breeding giant beetles
Coral
Breeding butterflies
The Birdwing - Troidini project
​Resources
Contact us
The Magic of Life Trust is a Registered Charity No 1159917
The Magic of Life Butterfly House
CwmRheidol
Aberystwyth
Ceredigion
Wales
SY23 3NB

Tel 01970 880928
​
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  • Home
  • VISITOR INFO
    • Location and prices
    • Schools and groups
    • Rheidol Valley
    • Local attractions
  • Magic of Life - The Trust
    • What we do
    • Animal and Plant Collections
    • The Butterfiles
    • Insects and Others
    • The Garden
    • The Butterfly Symbol
    • History
    • Staff
  • Conservation
    • Resources
    • The Birdwing - Troidini Project
    • Changing attitudes
    • Breeding giant beetles
    • Coral Collections
    • Breeding butterflies
  • Contact us
  • JOBS