Australia, Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, and the Solomon Islands are home to the huge swallowtail butterfly known as Papilio ulysses, also referred to as the Blue Emperor. The wingspan varies depending on the subspecies, however in Queensland it is roughly 10.5 cm (4.1 in) long.
Amazing Facts
- The blue crescents on the female Ulysses butterfly’s wings are known to attract male Ulysses butterflies, who may therefore fly in the direction of anything blue they happen to notice.
- This butterfly serves as the state emblem of Queensland in Australia, which promotes travel.
- Predators are warned by the vivid hues.
Appearance
The wingspan of the Ulysses butterfly varies somewhat depending on subspecies, although it normally measures around 14 cm. The underside of the wings is a more modest black and brown color, while the top is an iridescent electric blue. The scales’ tiny structure is what creates the colors.
The species’ female differs from the male in that she bears tiny blue crescents on the backs of her hind wings, whilst males simply have black on theirs. The butterfly’s planer brown underside helps it blend in with its surroundings while perched since that side of its wings masks the bright blue of its wings. The butterfly can be seen flying hundreds of meters distant as brief bursts of vivid blue. Blue objects that are occasionally mistaken for girls are also highly attractive to males.
Diet
This butterfly’s larval food plants include Euodia, various Citrus, and kerosene wood.
Predators
Birds that hunt insects will easily catch the Ulysses butterfly because they can see its distinctive blue color from great distances.
Habitat
The Ulysses butterfly lives below the rainforest canopy and can be found in most tropical rainforest regions, including Northern Queensland, the Northern Australian Islands, and Papua New Guinea. Both suburban gardens and tropical rainforest habitats are home to the Ulysses butterfly. Despite the fact that the species is not endangered, the Australian government mandates that breeders get licenses.
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