African Swallowtail, Mocker Swallowtail, The Flying Handkerchief

Papiliodardanus

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Gardener's Notes:
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debnes_dfw_tx

Fort Worth, TX (Zone 8a) | March 2008 | Positive
The Mocker flits in Africa and is an excellent mimic of many distasteful species, known to be a master of Batesian mimicry. There are many forms of females. All of them imitate some other uneatable species of butterflies. Usually the females have no tails on hind wings.
Larval host:
The Mocker female oviposits on various plants from Rutaceae, such as:
Calodendrum, Citrus, Clausena anisata, Teclea natalensis,Toddalia asiatica, Vepris eugeniifolia, and Zanthoxylum.

Also from Monimiaceae:
Xymalos
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Ant Lion
(Distoleon tetragrammicus)
California Towhee
(Melozone crissalis)
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Ant Lion
(Distoleon tetragrammicus)
California Towhee
(Melozone crissalis)