Happy Thanksgiving, Canadian readers!
This week's butterfly is the subject of controversy and confusion. Graphium mandarinus always was very close to being considered the same thing as Graphium glycerion. Both have been called Spectacled Swordtails. The subspecies name garhwalica is now preferred as a species name, Graphium garhwalica.
Currently, while the subspecies G.m. garhwalica is now regarded by some scientists as different from the other subspecies of mandarinus and similar to glycerion, the other subspecies of Graphium mandarinus seem to be keeping their names. Those who want to replace the name Graphium glycerion with Graphium garhwalica still accept the names of Graphium mandarinus mandarinus, G.m. albarea, G.m. fangana, G.m. kimurai, and G.m. stillwelli. Graphium mandarinus paphus, or Graphium paphus, depending on whom you asked, is now often classified as the same species as Graphium glycerion or, nowadays, Graphium garhwalica. (Though Moore et al. made the case for keeping it as a distinct species:
All of these subspecies names have been assigned based on the way the butterflies look, only. They don't live in highly populated areas and don't seem to have been reared in captivity. Since a butterfly is a small prey animal whose survival may depend on its ability to confuse predators, determining which looks define species, subspecies, or mere individual variation frequently confuses experts, too. Even Walter Rothschild, who never seemed to mind letting his best guess be taken for a fact, ventured only so far as to say that mandarinus was "variable."
Though popular, these butterflies are seldom seen, because they live at tropical or semitropical latitudes but at high altitudes, in India and Thailand. The lowest altitude recorded for this species is about 4000 feet, moderate and comfortable for humans, but they are more often reported much higher up the mountains. They seem to have one generation a year. Their wingspan is about three inches. They are not really common anywhere, but not so uncommon as to be considered endangered, either.
Little is known about their life cycle. This paper documents the life cycle of a very similar species; it's linked here with the caveat that early stages in the life cycle of similar-looking species may be different:
Despite their ethereal appearance, they require mineral salts the males slurp up from polluted puddles, with a special preference for urine. Females can usually get their quota of minerals from contact with males, so they can afford clean habits, sipping only clean water and flower nectar. Human sweat contains enough mineral salts that these butterflies may perch on a sweaty hiker, licking shirt, socks, or even skin if the hiker holds still.
This Chinese naturalist took a short, clear video of mandarinus flitting, sipping, and pollinating:
Some may want to watch more of these butterfly videos.
This short, slow-motion video is Japanese.
The subspecies albarea and stillwelli are undocumented on the Internet.
Subspecies fangana, sometimes spelled phangana:
Drinking buddies show the transparency of their wing tips. Photographed in February in Thailand at a relatively low altitude of 1500 meters, almost 5000 feet.
Subspecies kimurai was formerly known as Graphium glycerion glycerion:
Photo by Ayuwat, taken in January in Thailand.
Also by Ayuwat, January, Thailand; but I think this one, with more worn and transparent wings, is a different butterfly.
This couple of Graphium mandarinus kimurai were mistakenly labelled Bhutanitis lidderdalii. They are much smaller and have only one tail on each hind wing. They were found in December, in Thailand, at an altitude of 2300m or over 7500 feet.
Subspecies paphus is documented at sources that treat it as a subspecies of mandarinus:
Photo by Sonam_Pintso_Sherpa, taken in April in Sikkim.
This site, which accepts paphus as a species, describes the minute but consistent differences in their wing markings and provides photo documentation of other things. Did that puddling male intentionally dip his hind wings in water?
There are still opportunities for students to become famous by adding to what is known about this whole family of butterflies.
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