# Life history of Papilio (Druryia) meriones Felder & Felder (Lepidoptera, Papilionidae) from Madagascar

## TL;DR

This paper describes the life cycle of a swallowtail butterfly species found only in Madagascar, based on observations from collected eggs and rearing experiments.

## Contribution

The study provides the first detailed life history description of Papilio meriones, a Madagascan-specific swallowtail butterfly.

## Key findings

- Eggs of Papilio meriones were collected during an expedition to Madagascar.
- A successful rearing experiment allowed the documentation of all developmental stages of P. meriones.

## Abstract

The swallowtail butterflies (Lepidoptera: Papilionidae) have been researched extensively as a model species in biology, ecology, and conservation biology. During a recent expedition to Central and South Madagascar, eggs of a Madagascan-specific swallowtail butterfly, Papiliomeriones, were collected. After a successful rearing experiment, the life history of P.meriones is described with all developmental stages illustrated.