Swallowtail butterfly Swallowtail butterfly Swallowtail butterflies are large, colorful butterflies in the family Papilionidae, and include over 550 species. Though the majority are tropical, members of the family inhabit every continent except Antarctica. The family includes the largest butterflies in the world, the birdwing butterflies of the genus "Ornithoptera". Swallowtails have a number of distinctive features; for example, the papilionid caterpillar bears a repugnatorial organ called the osmeterium on its prothorax. The osmeterium normally remains hidden, but when threatened, the larva turns it outward through a transverse dorsal groove by inflating it with fluid. The forked appearance of the swallowtails' hindwings, which
Nephele comma The larvae feed on the leaves of "Carissa" species. Nephele comma Nephele comma is a moth of the family Sphingidae. It is very common throughout the Ethiopian Region, including Madagascar. The length of the forewings is 32–39 mm and the wingspan is 76–86 mm. It is a very variable species. The body and forewings are dark olive green to reddish-brown and to light ochreous-brown. The dorsum of the abdomen is broadly of the same colour as the thorax. There are three large quadrate blackish lateral spots. The forewings have irregular dark transverse bands which are usually much better developed in