Genga, Oliver C.Samita, Namikoye E.Kahuthia-Gathu, RuthKioko, Esther N.2023-11-282023-11-282023-11Genga, O. C., Samita, N. E., Kahuthia-Gathu, R., & Kioko, E. N. (2023). Biology of the Endemic Endangered Swallowtail Butterfly, Papilio desmondi teita (Lepidoptera: Papilionidae), on Wild Citrus Species in Taita Hills, Kenya. Psyche: A Journal of Entomology, 2023.https://doi.org/10.1155/2023/5538627https://ir-library.ku.ac.ke/handle/123456789/27215ArticleTe Taita Hills swallowtail butterfy, Papilio desmondi teita, was reared in captivity on wild citrus (Rutaceae), Toddalia asiatica and Clausena anisata, in Ngangao Forest, Taita Hills, Kenya. Te butterfies were exposed to the host plants for oviposition inside the laying buckets under ambient laboratory conditions. Results revealed that P. desmondi teita could only complete development on T. asiatica and but not on C. anisata in both seasons. Te egg incubation period on T. asiatica was signifcantly shorter (P <0.001) compared to C. anisata during the frst season (P = 0.595) but not in the second season.Te development period of the butterfy in 1st and 2nd seasons on T. asiatica was 81.13 ±0.44 days and 112.15±1.20 days, respectively, while a female-biased sex ratio was observed in the frst and second seasons. Findings from this study indicate that T. asiatica was the most suitable host plant for development of P. desmondi teita.enArticle