Papilio homerus
Encyclopedia
The Homerus swallowtail or Jamaican giant swallowtail, Papilio homerus, is the largest swallowtail butterfly
in the Western Hemisphere
and the largest species in the genus Papilio
with an average wingspan of about 15 centimetres (5.9 in) (the African giant swallowtail
has a larger wingspan, but this is mainly due to its elongated forewings). The Homerus swallowtail belongs to the swallowtail family (tribus: Papilionini
) and is often placed in the subgenus Pterourus, considered a full genus by some authors.
It is found only in forests in Jamaica
and is under significant pressure from habitat loss and potentially also from collecting. It has also been shown that death rates due to parasitic wasp
s of the genus Chrysonotomyia
are higher in disturbed habitats. The Homerus swallowtail was relatively common in the 1930s and its range used to be contiguous, but it has now retracted to a main population in the Blue
and John Crow Mountains
in eastern Jamaica, and a tiny population, estimated at less than 50 adults, in Cockpit Country
in the west of the island. It is listed as endangered
by the IUCN and is included on Appendix I of CITES, thereby making international trade illegal. In addition to better protection of the remaining populations and their habitat, it has been suggested that a captive breeding program may help save the species. The caterpillar
s feed exclusively on Hernandia jamaicensis
and H. catalpifolia
; both of which also are endemic to Jamaica.
Swallowtail butterfly
Swallowtail butterflies are large, colorful butterflies that form the family Papilionidae. There are over 550 species, and though the majority are tropical, members of the family are found on all continents except Antarctica...
in the Western Hemisphere
Western Hemisphere
The Western Hemisphere or western hemisphere is mainly used as a geographical term for the half of the Earth that lies west of the Prime Meridian and east of the Antimeridian , the other half being called the Eastern Hemisphere.In this sense, the western hemisphere consists of the western portions...
and the largest species in the genus Papilio
Papilio
Papilio is a genus in the swallowtail butterfly family, Papilionidae. The word papilio is Latin for butterfly.The genus includes a number of well-known North American species such as the Western Tiger Swallowtail...
with an average wingspan of about 15 centimetres (5.9 in) (the African giant swallowtail
Papilio antimachus
Papilio antimachus is a butterfly in the family Papilionidae. With a wingspan between , it is the largest butterfly in Africa and among the largest butterflies in the world. Papilio antimachus live in the tropical rainforests of West and Central Africa...
has a larger wingspan, but this is mainly due to its elongated forewings). The Homerus swallowtail belongs to the swallowtail family (tribus: Papilionini
Papilionini
Papilionini is the tribe of fluted swallowtails that includes the genus Papilio.It consists of roughly 200 species worldwide and 21 North American species. The hind margin of the hindwing of the males is bent downward , resulting in its name. Many of the larvae resemble bird droppings during a...
) and is often placed in the subgenus Pterourus, considered a full genus by some authors.
It is found only in forests in Jamaica
Jamaica
Jamaica is an island nation of the Greater Antilles, in length, up to in width and 10,990 square kilometres in area. It is situated in the Caribbean Sea, about south of Cuba, and west of Hispaniola, the island harbouring the nation-states Haiti and the Dominican Republic...
and is under significant pressure from habitat loss and potentially also from collecting. It has also been shown that death rates due to parasitic wasp
Parasitic wasp
The term parasitoid wasp refers to a large evolutionary grade of hymenopteran superfamilies, mainly in the Apocrita. They are primarily parasitoids of other animals, mostly other arthropods...
s of the genus Chrysonotomyia
Chrysonotomyia
Chrysonotomyia is a genus of hymenopteran insects of the family Eulophidae.-References:**...
are higher in disturbed habitats. The Homerus swallowtail was relatively common in the 1930s and its range used to be contiguous, but it has now retracted to a main population in the Blue
Blue Mountains (Jamaica)
The Blue Mountains form the longest mountain range in Jamaica. They include the island's highest point, Blue Mountain Peak, at 2256 m . From the summit, accessible via a walking track, both the North and South coasts of the island can be seen...
and John Crow Mountains
John Crow Mountains
The John Crow Mountains are a range of mountains in Jamaica. They extend parallel with the north east coast of the island, bounded to the west by the banks of the Rio Grande, and joining with the eastern end of the Blue Mountains in the southeast...
in eastern Jamaica, and a tiny population, estimated at less than 50 adults, in Cockpit Country
Cockpit Country
Cockpit Country is an area in Jamaica which provided a natural defensive area used by Maroons to establish communities outside the control of Spanish or British colonialists....
in the west of the island. It is listed as endangered
Endangered species
An endangered species is a population of organisms which is at risk of becoming extinct because it is either few in numbers, or threatened by changing environmental or predation parameters...
by the IUCN and is included on Appendix I of CITES, thereby making international trade illegal. In addition to better protection of the remaining populations and their habitat, it has been suggested that a captive breeding program may help save the species. The caterpillar
Caterpillar
Caterpillars are the larval form of members of the order Lepidoptera . They are mostly herbivorous in food habit, although some species are insectivorous. Caterpillars are voracious feeders and many of them are considered to be pests in agriculture...
s feed exclusively on Hernandia jamaicensis
Hernandia jamaicensis
Hernandia jamaicensis is a species of plant in the Hernandiaceae family. It is endemic to Jamaica.-Source:* World Conservation Monitoring Centre 1998. . Downloaded on 21 August 2007....
and H. catalpifolia
Hernandia catalpifolia
Hernandia catalpifolia is a species of plant in the Hernandiaceae family. It is endemic to Jamaica. It is threatened by habitat loss.-Source:* World Conservation Monitoring Centre 1998. . Downloaded on 21 August 2007....
; both of which also are endemic to Jamaica.