Common Bluebottle

Graphium sarpedon belongs to Papilionidae. The 2013 revision separated several former members of the sarpedon complex, including G. choredon and G. teredon. [4][5]

The Singapore account of G. sarpedon luctatius describes a blue to blue-green band extending from the forewing apex toward the inner hindwing, with additional blue marginal spots. The underside bears red spotting and a red basal hindwing mark. These characters describe the regional luctatius form. [3]

Singapore’s luctatius account records adults in forests, gardens and urban settings. [3]

Singapore’s luctatius account records Cinnamomum iners as a larval host and females visiting flowering bushes. [3]

The Singapore account records gatherings of numerous G. sarpedon luctatius adults. [3]

Research on Japanese male Graphium sarpedon nipponum identified at least fifteen spectral classes of photoreceptor, spanning ultraviolet to red sensitivity. The researchers found five opsin messenger-RNA types; some ventral receptors coexpressed two or three long-wavelength opsins. Opsin coexpression and filtering by pigments contribute to the diversity of spectral responses. [6]

In G. sarpedon nipponum, sarpedobilin colours the wing membrane blue-green; local addition of lutein shifts patches toward green. Transparent ventral scales strengthen the visible colour by reflection and produce polarized iridescence under oblique illumination. The authors proposed an intraspecific signalling function for this polarized reflection. [7]

Luctatius is the subspecies treated in Singapore’s account; nipponum is the Japanese form studied in the eye and wing-optics papers. The 2013 revision recognizes choredon and teredon as separate species. [3][4][6][7]

Singapore’s third-edition Red Data Book lists Graphium sarpedon luctatius as Least Concern nationally. [2]

The dorsal view shows the blue-green band and marginal spots; the underside reveals red spotting and the basal hindwing mark. [3]

Scott Schubr’s Luminary Oddities illustration emphasizes the blue-green band against dark wings. The band’s course, marginal markings and wing outline retain the pattern of the illustrated species.

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. [1]

How can five opsin types contribute to fifteen spectral classes? Some receptors coexpress multiple long-wavelength opsins, and pigments filter the light reaching them, producing different sensitivity curves. [6]

What produces the blue-green band? The bile pigment sarpedobilin produces blue-green colour, with lutein contributing to greener areas; transparent scales on the underside add reflective effects. [7]

The taxonomic revision defines the species boundary. Singapore sources document luctatius habitat, hosts and national status. The eye study reports receptor sensitivities, while the wing study examines pigments, scales and polarization in nipponum.