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| top: 45mi E of Sao Paulo de Olivenca green form | Vicinity of Sao Paulo de Olivenca, Brasil; Blue form |
Once considered a distinct species and felt to be
exceedingly rare, "Papilio diaphora" is now believed to be a form
or subspecies of P. xanthopleura,
distinguished by yellow banding on the forewing; it is noted with increasing
frequency as one travels east from Iquitos Peru along the Amazon. It is
very local and spends much of its time in the canopy. Females almost never
come down to the ground, but males may puddle in good numbers early in
the morning before returning to the canopy (personal communication)