Pachliopta kotzebuea (Eschscholtz, 1821)

OCCURENCE

Habitat: Forest - Subtropical/Tropical Moist Lowland
This species lives in the tropical rainforest of the Philippines (Collins and Morris 1985) and it is thought to fly on the edge of rainforest (Tsukada and Nishiyama 1982). In the northern and central Philippines, it is found in primary and secondary forest, pastureland (with shrubs) and in coconut groves with understorey flowering vegetation (Page and Treadaway 2004). Nacua et al. (2015) found this species to be as likely to be found in sunny habitat and shady habitat, suggesting it also utilises open canopy areas characteristic of sunnier habitat. A study of this species in Tandag city found it to be rare, suggesting it is not well-suited to an urban habitat (Ramirez and Mohagan 2012). The host plant of this species is of the genus Aristolochia , and more specifically A. tagala (Nacua et al. 2015). Adults in the southern Philippines are apparently attracted to particular flowers of a non-identified species (Page and Treadaway 2004).
(IUCN 2020)

Population: Because of its distribution across many of the Philippine islands, this species is likely to have a relatively large population. Collins and Morris (1985) and Page and Treadaway (2004) document a wide distribution across the Philippine islands. Ramirez and Mohagan (2012) found this species locally rare in Maitum village, Tandag, Suriago del Sur, but stated it to be nationally common. However, in another study of butterflies in La Union Botanical Garden of North Luzon, Philippines, the species was locally common (in the botanical garden) but considered nationally rare across the Philippines (Nacua et al. 2015). Page and Treadaway (2004) suggest the species can be locally common, with several specimens flying together. These differing results suggests that research results are dependent on a number of different factors, and it is important that further standardised monitoring is carried out to consolidate information on the population status of this species.
Range: This species is endemic to the Philippine islands, where it is widely distributed (Collins and Morris 1985, Page and Treadaway 2004), including Central and Western Luzon (subspecies kotzebuea ), Southern Luzon (including Catanduanes; subspecies mataconga ), Northern Luzon and Babuyan (subspecies tindongana ), Bohol and Cebu (subspecies bilara ), Marinduque, Masbate, Mindoro, Negros, Panay and Ticao (subspecies deseileus ), and Dinagat, Homohon, Leyte, Mindanao, Panaon, Samar and Sarangani (Treadaway 1995). However, this species is absent from the island of Palawan (Tsukada and Nishiyama 1982), as well as the Calamian group, Cuyo group, Basilan and the Sulu Archipelago (Page and Treadaway 2004). The species has been observed flying to altitudes of around 1,000 m asl (Page and Treadaway). The estimated extent of occurrence of this species is approximately 653,000 km².
(IUCN 2020)

Occurrence and observation maps

Map of Life
GBIF
i-Naturalist

References

• Collins, N.M. and Morris, M.G. 1985. Threatened Swallowtail Butterflies of the World. The IUCN Red Data Book. IUCN, Gland and Cambridge.
• IUCN. 2020. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2020-3. Available at: www.iucnredlist.org. (Accessed: 10 December 2020).
• Nacua, A.E., Mohagan, A.B. and Alejandro, G.J.D. 2015. Diversity and distribution of butterflies in the open and close canopy forests of Cadaclan, San Fernando La union botanical garden of North Luzon, the Philippines. Journal of Biodiversity and Environmental Sciences 6(1): 169-177.
• Nacua, A.E., Mohagan, A.B. and Alejandro, G.J.D. 2015. Species Composition and Status of Butterflies in the Sunny and Shady Habitats of Cadaclan, San Fernando, La Union Botanical Garden of North Luzon, Philippines. Journal of Biodiversity and Environmental Sciences 6(1): 169-177.
• Page, M.G.P. and Treadaway, C.G. 2004. Butterflies of the World. Hillside Books, Canterbury.
• Ramirez, R.K.C. and Mohagan, A.B. 2012. Diversity and Status of Butterflies in Maitum Village, Tandag, Surigao del Sur, Philippines. Asian Journal of Biodiversity 3: 74-112.
• Treadaway, C.G. 1995. Checklist of the butterflies of the Philippine islands (Lepidoptera: Rhopalocera). Nachrichten Entomologischen Vereins Apollo (N.F.) Supplement 14: 7-118.
• Tsukada, E. and Nishiyama, Y. 1982. Butterflies of the South East Asian islands. Plapac Co. Ltd., Tokyo.