The Small Striped Swordtail Butterfly (Graphium policenes policenes) is a common medium-sized butterfly from sub-Saharan Africa. It is in the Papilionidae family – the swallowtails and swordtails.

The Swordtail Butterfly is black with green-blue or green stripes on its wings. It has long, narrow black tails, called swallowtails or swordtails.

Small Striped Swordtail

It has a wingspan of about 6 centimetres (2 inches).

The Swordtail is common in coastal forests, woodlands, and near rivers in tropical Africa.

Sometimes it gathers in very large numbers seasonally during mating.

Small Striped Swordtail

Photographer: Martina Nicolls

Martina Nicolls: SIMILAR BUT DIFFERENT IN THE ANIMAL KINGDOM