About Five-bar Swordtail
An elegant swallowtail with pale creamy-white wings crossed by bold black zebra-like stripes and exceptionally long, narrow sword-shaped tails. It is a swift, darting flier.
Did You Know?
It is one of the fastest-flying butterflies in Southeast Asia and is notoriously difficult to catch due to its erratic zigzag flight pattern.
How to Identify Five-bar Swordtail
Five-bar Swordtail (Graphium antiphates) belongs to the order Lepidoptera, family Papilionidae. Adults typically measure 75-100 mm wingspan, tails up to 25 mm.
Five-bar Swordtail Habitat
Five-bar Swordtail is found in rivers & streams habitats, particularly across Southeast Asia (Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, Vietnam, Myanmar, Philippines). This species has adapted to thrive in its preferred environment, where it can find suitable food sources and shelter.
Five-bar Swordtail Diet and Feeding
Five-bar Swordtail feeds primarily on nectar from flowers. In doing so, it acts as an important pollinator, transferring pollen between plants and contributing to plant reproduction and biodiversity.
Where Is Five-bar Swordtail Found?
Five-bar Swordtail can be found in Southeast Asia (Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, Vietnam, Myanmar, Philippines), where it inhabits rivers & streams environments. Its distribution is influenced by climate, food availability, and habitat suitability.
Distribution Map
Where Five-bar Swordtail can be found
Is Five-bar Swordtail Dangerous?
Five-bar Swordtail is generally harmless to humans. It does not bite or sting and poses no significant health risk. Like most insects, it prefers to avoid human contact and will typically flee rather than confront a perceived threat.
Five-bar Swordtail Role in Nature
Five-bar Swordtail plays an important role as a pollinator. By visiting flowers to feed on nectar or pollen, it transfers pollen between plants, aiding in reproduction and helping to maintain plant diversity. Pollinators are essential for the production of many fruits, vegetables, and wildflowers.
Seasonal Activity
Frequently Asked Questions About Five-bar Swordtail
What does Five-bar Swordtail look like?
The Five-bar Swordtail typically measures 75-100 mm wingspan, tails up to 25 mm.
Where is Five-bar Swordtail found?
The Five-bar Swordtail is found in Southeast Asia (Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, Vietnam, Myanmar, Philippines) and typically inhabits rivers & streams environments.
What does Five-bar Swordtail eat?
The Five-bar Swordtail feeds primarily on nectar from flowers.
Is Five-bar Swordtail dangerous to humans?
The Five-bar Swordtail is generally harmless to humans. It does not bite or sting and poses no significant health risk.
What is an interesting fact about Five-bar Swordtail?
It is one of the fastest-flying butterflies in Southeast Asia and is notoriously difficult to catch due to its erratic zigzag flight pattern.
Cite This Page
APA:
InsectDiscover. (2026). Five-bar Swordtail (Graphium antiphates). Retrieved from https://insectdiscover.com/insect/five-bar-swordtail
MLA:
"Five-bar Swordtail." InsectDiscover, https://insectdiscover.com/insect/five-bar-swordtail.