7 Mart 2013 Perşembe

Oregon State Insect


Oregon State Insect

Oregon Swallowtail (common name)
Papilio oregonius 
(scientific name)

Overview

The Oregon swallowtail is a large butterfly native to the Pacific Northwest. It was adopted in 1979 as the state insect of Oregon. It has a yellow abdomen striped with black lines, which distinguishes it from related swallowtails (along with its brighter colors and smaller "eye spot"). Its hind wings are scalloped and have blue spots and a reddish-orange eyespot along the lower border. It has thin long tails on its hind wings characteristic of all swallowtail butterflies.

Close-up

STATUS
Official
PHYSICAL DETAILS
Wingspan: 2 1/2–3 in (6.5–7.5 cm).
Larvae: Caterpillars are black with yellow markings.
LIFESPAN
One month
HABITAT
Open hilltops, mountain meadows, and tundra
Range: Swallowtails are found in southern British Columbia, eastern Washington, eastern Oregon, and western Idaho. They are most plentiful in the lower sagebrush canyons of the Columbia River, Snake River, and their tributaries.
Flight period: In the northern part of its range it has one flight in late May–July. Oregon swallowtails have two flights in the southern part of its range.
Conservation status: Least concern
BEHAVIOR
Females lay eggs one-at-a-time on the host plant. Caterpillars become chrysalids in the autumn and overwinter to hatch in the spring.
DIET
Adults: Flower nectar from thistles, purple sage, balsamroot, and the phlox.
Larva: Newly hatched caterpillars eat the leaves of their host plants, which are dragon wormwood and wild tarragon. Older caterpillars feed on the flowers of plants in the parsley family.
TRIVIA
  • In 1977 the U.S. Postal Service issued a stamp illustrating the Oregon swallowtail.

Click to enlarge an image
State Insect
Oregon Swallowtail
State Insect
Close-up of Oregon Swallowtail
State Insect
Postage Stamp Featuring Oregon Swallowtail

CLASSIFICATION
Kingdom:Animalia
Phylum:Arthropoda
Class:Insecta
Order:Lepidoptera
Family:Papilionidae
Tribe:Papilionini
Genus:Papilio
Species:P. oregonius
Author: World Trade Press

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