Spot swordtail

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Species and historical combination

Graphium nomius belongs to Papilionidae. Spot Swordtail and Spotted Swordtail are English names; Pathysa nomius is a historical combination used in behavioural literature. [4]

Wing pattern and long tails

The regional diagnostic account describes whitish wings with broad dark margins, contrasting spots and bands, red hindwing markings and long, narrow sword-like tails. [4]

Indian and Sri Lankan records

Records include India and Sri Lanka. A 2025 paper documents adults photographed in Pilibhit Tiger Reserve, Uttar Pradesh, during August and September 2023. [4][1]

Annonaceae associations

Sri Lankan research records Miliusa tomentosa as a larval food plant. The Western Ghats compilation also lists Miliusa velutina and Polyalthia longifolia, retaining the plant names used in those records. [1][2]

Mud-puddling

The Mumbai study records mud-puddling under the historical combination Pathysa nomius. [3]

Graphium and Pathysa

Pathysa nomius appears in older and behavioural literature. It refers to the same species treated here as Graphium nomius. Swordtail describes the narrow hindwing extensions. [3][4]

Preserving the full tail outline

Dorsal and ventral views show the dark bands, red hindwing details and complete tail outline.

Pale pattern and extended silhouette

A pale ground contrasts with dark bands, fine markings and restrained red accents. The narrow hindwing tails remain part of the complete silhouette.

Protecting projecting tails

Keep physical specimens enclosed and handle the frame rather than the insect. Avoid direct sunlight, persistent damp and concentrated heat; inspect periodically for loose fragments, moisture or pest damage. Do not brush or wet wing surfaces. Long tails are especially vulnerable to physical damage. [5]

Interpreting host and locality records

Which larval plants are documented? Sri Lankan and Western Ghats records include Miliusa tomentosa, M. velutina and Polyalthia longifolia. [1][2]

What is Pathysa nomius? It is a historical generic combination used for the same spot swordtail. [3][4]

Early stages, hosts and field observations

The Sri Lankan study and Western Ghats compilation document immature stages and host plants. The Mumbai paper records puddling, while the SHILAP paper supplies photographic occurrence data and a regional diagnostic account. [1][2][3][4]

New and revised descriptions of the immature stages of some butterflies in Sri Lanka and their larval food plants (Lepidoptera: Papilionidae) ↗
Journal of Research on the Lepidoptera · Accessed 2026-10-09
Larval host plants of the butterflies of the Western Ghats, India ↗
Journal of Threatened Taxa · Accessed 2026-10-09
Some observations on the butterfly mud puddling in and around Mumbai ↗
Journal of Entomology and Zoology Studies · Accessed 2026-10-09
Graphium nomius diagnostic description, SHILAP 53(209):89–99 ↗
SHILAP Revista de lepidopterología · Accessed 2026-10-09
Caring for natural history collections ↗
Canadian Conservation Institute · Accessed 2026-10-09

Artworks in the collection

Framed and digital artworks featuring this species. Current options and prices are listed on Etsy.

The Star ↗Framed work

Related species

Sources checked 2026-10-09. Illustrations · Luminary Oddities.

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