(Papilionidae) This global family of small butterflies includes slightly less than 600 described species. The Indo-Australian region alone includes 250 described species. They are big butterflies. This family contains the biggest species of the Lepidoptera order, including Ornithopter from the Indo-Australian region. Adults can be seen flying. Larvae are herbivorous feeding mainly on foliage. They have a gland behind their head producing defensive aromatic materials whose flow in this part of the body can cause the appearance of an erecting organ. Those species gather on a wide spectrum of plants such as Nymphalidae. Some eat toxic plants whereas other species are known to cause damages to agriculture, especially crops and citrus.
