Narrow Green-banded Swallowtail Butterfly Papilio nireus

The Narrow Green-banded Swallowtail Butterfly, also called the Narrow Blue-banded, is native to Africa and southern Arabia. The green-blue colour varies with the light. Like many "Swallowtails," this butterfly does not have "tails." Patterns of the male and female vary. Above is the female with well-defined crescent spots at the edge of the hind wings.

Above is the male butterfly showing, left, a more well-defined narrow band but more "blobby" spots on the edge of the hind wing. By the time he has aged (centre), the edge markings have frayed.

The major difference in appearance of male and female is the side (ventral) view. The male, above, has fairly plain underside wings with a distinct cream line on the edge of the hind wing.

The female butterfly has significantly different underside wings, lighter with blurred white markings, shadows and spots and without the cream line on the hind wing.