Common Mormon

Physical Characteristics

The Common Mormon is a medium-sized swallowtail butterfly found across South and Southeast Asia, recognized for its remarkable sexual dimorphism and mimetic female forms. It is one of the most adaptable and widely distributed swallowtails in the region.

Wings and Coloration:
The species exhibits marked differences between males and females:

• Male: Uniform and consistent in appearance. Upperside is velvety black with a row of white spots on the hindwing and a small red crescent near the tornus (hindwing inner edge). The forewings are mostly plain black with faint streaks.

• Female: Exists in multiple forms—a striking example of polymorphic Batesian mimicry. The main forms include:

  • Form stichius: Mimics the toxic Common Rose (Pachliopta aristolochiae), with red and white patches on black wings

  • Form romulus: Similar but with subtle pattern variations

  • Form cyrus (non-mimetic): Resembles the male; rare in the wild

Size:

• Wingspan: 3.1 to 4.3 in (8 to 11 cm)

• Body Length: 1.2 to 1.6 in (3 to 4 cm)

Body and Antennae:

• The body is slender and black with small white spots on the thorax and abdomen

• Antennae are black and clubbed, used for sensory perception

Hindwing Tails:
Unlike the Common Mime, the Common Mormon has slender tail extensions on the hindwings—typical of the swallowtail family (Papilionidae). These tails enhance its resemblance to toxic models.

Flight Pattern:
Flight is quick, fluttery, and darting, especially in males. Females often exhibit a more deliberate, floating flight, especially when mimicking toxic species.

Sexual Dimorphism:

• Highly pronounced

• Males are uniform and non-mimetic

• Females occur in multiple mimetic forms, depending on regional presence of unpalatable butterflies

The Common Mormon’s physical traits are defined by mimetic diversity, gender-specific patterns, and classic swallowtail structure, making it a visual standout in both forests and gardens.

Reproduction

The Common Mormon butterfly exhibits a reproductive cycle typical of Papilionidae, with complete metamorphosis and high adaptability to tropical and subtropical environments. Its reproductive success is enhanced by its wide host plant range and the female’s polymorphic mimicry.

1. Mating Behavior:
Males are territorial and active, patrolling sunlit clearings and garden edges in search of females.

• Courtship involves aerial pursuit, followed by hovering and copulation

• Mating typically occurs in the morning and may last 30 minutes to over an hour

2. Oviposition (Egg Laying):

• Females lay single, spherical yellowish-white eggs on the underside of young leaves

• Host plants include many members of the Rutaceae family, especially:

  • Citrus spp. (lime, lemon, orange)

  • Murraya koenigii (curry leaf plant)

• Eggs hatch in 3 to 6 days, depending on temperature and humidity

3. Larval Stage (Caterpillar):

• Early instars resemble bird droppings for camouflage

• Later instars become smooth, green, and leaf-like with prominent white saddle patches

• The caterpillar possesses osmeterium, a Y-shaped gland that emits a pungent odor when threatened

• Larval development lasts 10 to 20 days, during which it undergoes 4–5 molts

4. Pupal Stage (Chrysalis):

• The caterpillar attaches itself to a branch or stem with a silken pad and girdle

• The pupa is angular and cryptically colored, often green or brown

• Pupal stage lasts 10 to 18 days, though in cooler months, it may enter diapause and delay emergence for several weeks

5. Adult Emergence and Maturity:

• Adult butterflies emerge in the morning, with wings fully expanded within 1–2 hours

• They become sexually active within 2 to 3 days and may begin mating and laying eggs shortly thereafter

The Common Mormon’s reproductive flexibility—including rapid development, multi-generational cycles, and adaptation to urban gardens—has contributed to its widespread success. Its female mimicry also provides protection during vulnerable post-emergence periods.

Lifespan

The Common Mormon butterfly is a fast-reproducing species with a relatively short adult life but multiple generations per year. Its adaptability to various climates and host plants contributes to its resilience and abundance across Asia.

Lifespan in the Wild:

• Egg Stage: 3 to 6 days

• Larval Stage (Caterpillar): 10 to 20 days

• Pupal Stage (Chrysalis): 10 to 18 days (can extend in diapause)

• Adult Butterfly: 2 to 4 weeks on average

Total life cycle duration ranges from 5 to 7 weeks, though it can stretch longer if the pupa overwinters.

Generations Per Year:
The Common Mormon is multivoltine, producing 3 to 6 generations annually in tropical and subtropical regions. Continuous breeding is common in warm climates, especially in gardens and citrus groves.

Lifespan in Captivity:

• In butterfly houses or controlled environments, adult lifespan may reach up to 5 weeks, provided nectar sources and temperatures are optimal

• Captive individuals are often used for education and breeding due to their resilience

Threats to Longevity:

• Predation by birds, lizards, spiders, and wasps, especially in the larval stage

• Parasitic flies and wasps targeting pupae and caterpillars

• Habitat loss and reduction in host plant availability

• Pesticide exposure in urban or agricultural areas

• Climate stress, particularly cold spells that interrupt development

The Common Mormon’s short but efficient lifespan, combined with its high reproductive rate and larval camouflage, ensures that it remains a prominent member of butterfly communities throughout Asia.

Eating Habits

The Common Mormon butterfly has a two-phase diet corresponding to its life stages: leaf-based feeding in the larval stage and nectar feeding in the adult stage. Its foraging habits are highly adaptable, enabling it to thrive in both wild and urban landscapes.

Larval Diet (Caterpillar Stage):

• The caterpillar is a specialist herbivore, feeding on the leaves of plants in the Rutaceae family (citrus relatives)

• Common host plants include:

  • Citrus limon (lemon)

  • Citrus aurantiifolia (lime)

  • Murraya koenigii (curry leaf plant)

  • Glycosmis pentaphylla

• Early-stage caterpillars mimic bird droppings and feed on tender young leaves

• Later instars consume larger quantities of foliage, often resting on leaf midribs for camouflage

Pupal Stage:

• The pupa does not feed and remains motionless while undergoing metamorphosis

Adult Diet (Butterfly Stage):

• Adult Common Mormons are nectarivores, visiting a wide range of flowering plants

• Common nectar sources include:

  • Lantana camara

  • Ixora spp.

  • Bougainvillea

  • Clerodendrum

  • Zinnia and Cosmos

• Feeding is most active in sunlit areas near gardens, forest edges, and clearings

Feeding Behavior:

• Uses its long, coiled proboscis to extract nectar from tubular flowers

• Males also engage in mud-puddling, absorbing salts and minerals from wet soil or animal droppings

• Adults may visit gardens, plantations, and roadsides, showing high tolerance for human-modified environments

The Common Mormon’s flexible feeding strategy—specialized as a caterpillar, generalized as an adult—supports its success across diverse landscapes. Its preference for common citrus plants makes it a familiar sight in both rural farms and urban gardens.

Uniqueness

The Common Mormon is one of Asia’s most fascinating butterflies due to its female mimicry, sexual dimorphism, and adaptability. It serves as a prime example of evolution in action, particularly in how females visually imitate toxic species to avoid predation.

Female Mimicry Polymorphism:
Unlike most butterflies, females of the Common Mormon occur in multiple forms, some of which mimic unpalatable species such as the Common Rose (Pachliopta aristolochiae). This is a classic case of Batesian mimicry, where a harmless species gains protection by imitating a toxic one.

• Form stichius mimics the red-and-black Common Rose

• Form romulus resembles the Crimson Rose

• Form cyrus is non-mimetic and rare

This mimicry varies geographically, depending on the abundance of the toxic model species.

Sexual Dimorphism:
The species displays strong sexual dimorphism:

• Males have a consistent, non-mimetic black-and-white pattern

• Females appear in multiple, regionally adaptive mimetic forms that look completely different from the male and from one another

Swallowtail Without Uniformity:
While most swallowtails share similar wing shapes and patterns, Papilio polytes breaks this mold with tail-bearing hindwings combined with intraspecific variation. This makes it one of the most visually variable swallowtails in Asia.

Urban Adaptability:
The Common Mormon thrives in natural forests, plantations, and urban gardens, particularly where citrus plants are abundant. It is one of the few large butterflies that flourishes in densely populated regions, making it familiar to both farmers and city-dwellers.

Behavioral Adaptability:

• Males are active and darting

• Mimetic females adopt slower, floating flight patterns to reinforce their resemblance to toxic models
  This combination of visual and behavioral mimicry strengthens their defense against predators.

Ecological Role:
As both a specialist herbivore (in larval stage) and a generalist nectar feeder (in adult stage), the Common Mormon plays a key role in pollination and butterfly-plant interactions across ecosystems.

The Common Mormon’s remarkable female polymorphism, evolutionary mimicry, and urban resilience make it one of the most studied and admired butterflies in Asia—and a standout example of natural selection in action.