Papilio indra
| Papilio indra | ||||||||||||
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Papilio indra kaibabensis , female |
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| Systematics | ||||||||||||
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| Scientific name | ||||||||||||
| Papilio indra | ||||||||||||
| Reakirt , 1866 |
Papilio indra is a butterfly ( butterfly ) from the family of the swallowtail butterfly (Papilionidae).
description
butterfly
The wingspan of the moth is 62 to 72 millimeters. All wings have a black-brown to black basic color. In the submarginal region of the forewings there is a row of small yellow spots on the upper side from the apex to the inner edge, in the post-disc region there is usually another row of larger yellow spots. The two rows of spots continue in a similar form on the hind wings. There are bluish spots between the two rows. A reddish eye spot with a black core stands out in the anal corner. The toothed outer edge has a very short tail. With regard to the color of the moths, there is a large range of variation due to regional differences. For example, specimens of the subspecies Papilio indra kaibabensis , which occur in the Grand Canyon , show little yellow, but more blue drawing elements. These features are particularly evident in females. The underside of all wings has the characteristics of the upper side in a somewhat weakened form. The abdomen of Papilio indra is a solid black, sometimes a small yellow spot can be seen at the end on each side.
Caterpillar
Younger caterpillars are black-brown in color and have a white crossbar in the middle. They are reminiscent of bird droppings. With this mimesis , they are well protected from predators. Adult animals show a conspicuous pattern that consists of alternating wide black and white or pink horizontal stripes. This pattern can vary in color from region to region.
Similar species
Papilio indra differs from other Papilio species similar in the wing drawing by the monochrome black abdomen, only occasionally provided with a yellow spot on each end at the end. Similar species always show yellow rows of dots or stripes on each side.
distribution and habitat
The range of Papilio indra extends from British Columbia further south to California and east to Wyoming , Colorado and Nevada . The species prefers to colonize warm rocky gorges and is also found in the Sonoran Desert .
Way of life
The moths form one generation per year and are mainly found in May and June; in desert areas, however, as early as March. They like to visit different flowers to take in nectar or take in liquids and minerals in damp places on the earth. The caterpillars feed polyphagously on the leaves of various umbellifers (Apiaceae), including herbaceous plants from the genera Cymopterus , Lomatium and Tauschia . Pupation takes place as a belt doll . This overwinters.
Subspecies
In addition to the nominate form Papilio indra indra Reakirt, 1866, the following subspecies are distinguished:
- Papilio indra calcicola Emmel & Griffin, 1998
- Papilio indra fordi Comstock & Martin, 1956
- Papilio indra kaibabensis farmer, 1955
- Papilio indra martini T. & J. Emmel, 1966
- Papilio indra minori Cross, 1936
- Papilio indra nevadensis T. & J. Emmel, 1971
- Papilio indra panamintensis Emmel, 1982
- Papilio indra parvindra J. Emmel, T. Emmel & Griffin, 2008
- Papilio indra pergamus H. Edwards, 1874
- Papilio indra phyllisae J. Emmel, 1982
- Papilio indra shastensis Emmel & Emmel, 1998
swell
Individual evidence
- ^ Butterflies and Moths of North America http://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/species/Papilio-indra
- ↑ Distribution http://www.nic.funet.fi/pub/sci/bio/life/insecta/lepidoptera/ditrysia/papilionoidea/papilionidae/papilioninae/papilio/index.html#indra
- ↑ a b James A. Scott: The Butterflies of North America: A Natural History and Field Guide. Stanford, California: Stanford University Press, 1986, ISBN 0-8047-2013-4 , pp. 175/176
- ^ Encyclopedia of Life http://eol.org/pages/4091953/overview
- ↑ Butterflies of America http://butterfliesofamerica.com/t/Papilio_indra_a.htm
literature
- James A. Scott: The Butterflies of North America , Stanford University Press, Stanford CA., 1992, ISBN 0-8047-2013-4 , pp. 175/176
