Dorsal view of
Papilio demoleus, a species of
swallowtail butterfly commonly found on
citrus species. First described by
Carl Linnaeus in 1758, this highly adaptable species is found throughout the world.
P. demoleus is considered a pest owing to its habit of feeding on cultivated citrus species; caterpillars can completely defoliate young citrus trees (shorter than 2 feet (60 cm)) and devastate citrus nurseries.
See side viewPhotograph: Jeevan Jose