Four-barred Swordtail
Protographium leosthenes leosthenes
Also called Fourbar Swordtail, Swallow-tailed Fanny
Protographium leosthenes leosthenes is a subspecies of the Four-barred Swordtail (Protographium leosthenes), a butterfly found in Australia, in the family Papilionidae, the swallowtails and birdwings. Its caterpillars are known to feed on 3 plants: Melodorum leichhardtii, Melodorum rupestrum and Desmos wardianus. This page has 12 photos of its life cycle (early instar caterpillars, final instar caterpillars, pupae and adults) by Bob Miller. Bob Miller wrote about it in his book, Bob's Butterflies.
Life cycle of the Four-barred Swordtail
Four-barred Swordtail caterpillars (early instar)
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Side view -
Top view
Four-barred Swordtail caterpillars (final instar)
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Side view -
Top view -
Side view -
Top view
Four-barred Swordtail pupae
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Side view -
Top view
Four-barred Swordtail adults
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Male, upperside -
Male, underside -
Female, upperside -
Female, underside
Photos by Bob Miller. Free to use for any purpose (CC0). Select a photo to enlarge it or download the original. Using these photos. Add your own photo of this butterfly.
In Bob's book
Bob wrote about this butterfly in his book:
- Four-barred Swordtail page 8
Caterpillar food plants
3 known food plants for this species.