Wildlife Photography: Five Bar Swordtail

Five bar swordtail photographed at Penang Butterfly Farm, March 2010 

The Five Bar Swordtail (Pathysa antiphates itamputi) is a medium size butterfly belonging to the Papilionidae family. It can be found in forested areas, riverbanks or the edges of the forest. It is a strong flyer with a rapid erratic flight. Often, it is seen flying high at tree top level.

It flies from flower to flower in search of nectar. Like the other typical Papilionidae s[ecies it has a characteristic flight when feeding at flowers, in that, whilst the forewings are flapping rapidly, the hindwings are held almost stationary as if to balance the butterfly perched on a flower as it sucks nectar from the flower with its long proboscis. Male Five Bar Swordtails are often observed puddling at muddy seepages and along river banks tainted with decomposing organic waste. ~ butterflycircle