About Graphium leonidas (Fabricius, 1793)
For explanation of descriptive terms, please refer to External morphology of Lepidoptera. The wingspan of Graphium leonidas measures 75–80 mm in males and 75–85 mm in females. On the underside of both wings, there are no distinct dark longitudinal streaks along the folds between the veins, and no dark longitudinal streaks in the cell of the hindwing. Both wings have submarginal spots. The discal spot in cellule 1b of the forewing never reaches the base of the cellule. The hindwing usually has free discal spots in cellules 2–5 and a broad basal transverse band that covers most of the cell and the base of cellules 1c, 2, 6, and 7. The forewing always has discal spots in cellules 1b, 3, 7, and 8, and usually also has small discal spots in cellules 2, 4, 5, and 6; the cell mostly contains three spots. - Graphium leonidas leonidas F. (= similis Cr.) (7d): All spots are light blue in males and bluish white in females; the forewing has no discal spot in cellule 1a; the submarginal spots of both wings are large; the proximal edge of the discal spot in cellule 4 of the forewing is rounded and this spot does not reach the base of the cellule. This form is found in Sierra Leone, Delagoa Bay, and British East Africa. - Aberration (?) interniplaga Auriv.: This aberration has a large discal spot in cellule 1a of the forewing, and is otherwise similar to the nominotypical form. It is recorded from German East Africa. - Aberration (?) onidale Suf.: The light basal area of the hindwing is sprinkled with black scales, the veins in this area are edged with black, and the spots in cellules 1c and 2 are small or entirely absent; it is otherwise similar to the nominotypical leonidas form. It is found in Muanza, German East Africa. - Graphium leonidas brasidas Fldr. (7d): The spots on the upper wing surface are small, white or yellowish white; the submarginal spots are dot-like. There is no discal spot in cellule 1a of the forewing. This form ranges from Angola to Natal. - Graphium leonidas umanus R. & J.: It differs from all the preceding forms in that the light basal transverse band of the hindwing only extends as far as the base of vein 2. It occurs in Abyssinia. - Graphium leonidas pelopidas Oberth.: The spots on the forewing are light bluish, and on average are somewhat larger than in G. l. leonidas. The discal spot in cellule 4 reaches the base of the cellule. The basal transverse band of the hindwing is very broad and almost pure white, while the submarginal spots are small, dot-like, and no larger than the discal spots. This is a little known form that may be a separate species, even though its markings align very closely with those of leonidas. It is found in German East Africa and Pemba Island.
