The subspecies P. m. menatius present in Guyana is black with white spots at the center of the forewings.

Adults feed on flower nectar of various plants, including Lantana and Impatiens species.

Papilio menatius is a member of the homerus species group.

The members of this clade are: and the enigmatic Papilio judicael known only from a handful of specimens and either a valid species from the Andean region, or a hybrid P. menatius × P. warscewiczii.

The following subspecies of Papilio menatius are recognised: This species can be found in southern North America and in most of South America (Mexico, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Panama, Ecuador, Suriname, Guyana, Colombia, Bolivia, Venezuela, Argentina, Brazil and Peru).