THE Lime Butterfly (Papilio demoleus malayanus) is a very common species which occurs in northeast Arabia, India and Sri Lanka, through most of Southeast Asia and the Lesser Sunda Islands to Australia and part of New Guinea. It is not found in Borneo, Java, Sulawesi, Timor and the Moluccas.
     As the name indicates, the larval food plant is the lime tree and a wide variety of Citrus. In areas where Citrus species are cultivated they are regarded as pests. I have a tangerine plant ("kart chai") growing in a pot, and the Lime Butterfly often lays eggs on it. Occasionally, I have seen a bulbul picking off the caterpillars from this plant.