Wing Color and Pattern Variation in P. zelicaon

After raising thousands of Anise Swallowtails (Papilio zelicaon) over the years, we have seen a ton of variation in their wing patterns. 

---

Most all animals, like humans, vary in appearance from individual to individual if you compare them closely enough; no two are ever 100% identical, even if they are siblings. In Anise Swallowtails (Papilio zelicaon), we have observed a myriad of different wing patterns after raising thousands of them over the years. Just this year, we have raised at least a couple hundred to adulthood since spring. 

One of the most variable characteristics in wing color is in the amount of blue coloration normally lining the margin of the hindwings. Females are supposed to have more blue in general, but some, both male and females will have the blue patches extending far into the forewing margin, though sometimes it is limited to the hindwings (top left). The blue lining is supposed to be tapered as it moves up the margin, so even if it extends into the forewing it is normally diminishing, but in some individuals (top right), especially males, instead of tapering through into the forewing, there is suddenly a large, almost eyespot- like blue patch at the bottom of the forewing (bottom left). Spring individuals usually have more blue than summer individuals.

Another place of great variability are the bottom two yellow spots in the row of yellow spots along the black margin of the forewing. The most common phenotype is simply two medium sized yellow spots that are separated completely (top left). However, some will have larger ones that are connected, giving it a notched, peanut shaped appearance (top right). Still, a few rare ones will have ones that are so large that the two spots are fully connected, creating a single large yellow spot (bottom left). On the other extreme, some will have very small ones that one or both are hardly visible (bottom right).

The red eyespots at the bottom of the hindwings are almost never exactly the same between individuals. The black pupil inside varies in size quite a bit, and sometimes shape as well; it is normally more or less circular (top left) but can be more elliptical and in some rare cases slightly crescent (top right) or diamond shaped (bottom left). Though most are in the center, the placement of the pupils also varies, with some closer to the margin than others but never actually touching (bottom right). In fact, one of the key distinguishing characteristics between P. zelicaon and similar species such as P. machaon is that the pupils never touch the margin of the eyespot.  

- Alan, Brian