About Papilio elwesi
Papilio elwesi is a butterfly species belonging to the family Papilionidae. It is endemic to China and Vietnam. Along with Papilio maraho, P. elwesi differs from all other Papilio species in that the tail of its hindwing is so dilated that two veins are required to support the structure. These two species together form the subgenus Agehana. The forewings of P. elwesi are dark grey with black veins. Its hindwings are elongated, ending in broad tails, and are also dark grey with black veins. A series of submarginal pinkish-red lunulae marks the hindwings. The body of the adult butterfly is black. The first four instars of P. elwesi larvae resemble bird droppings, while the mature caterpillar mimics the shape of a snake's head. The larvae feed on plant species from the Lauraceae family.
