Information on Purple Spotted Swallowtail Butterflies

Geography

• Purple spotted swallowtails are native only to the island nation of Papua New Guinea (see Reference 1). Though their range is small, purple spotted swallowtails are common within it.

Habitat

• Within their limited range, purple spotted swallowtails tend to be found most often in mountainous regions (see Reference 2).

Description

• Purple spotted swallowtails are black with spots of pale green and purple. The hind wings are elongated, as with all of the swallowtails.

Size

• Purple spotted swallowtails are among the smallest of the Papilionidae, with a wingspan measuring between 7 and 8 centimeters.

Fun Fact

• As with many butterflies, the males are more colorful than the females. Males are black with bright spots, while females are a duller brown.