Atrophaneura latreillei

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Rose Windmill

Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Papilionidae
Genus: Atrophaneura
Subgenus: Atrophaneura
Species: A. latreillei
Binomial name
Atrophaneura latreillei
Donovan, 1836

Rose Windmill Atrophaneura latreillei is a butterfly found in India that belongs to the Windmills group of Atrophaneura, comprising tailed black swallowtail butterflies with white spots and red submarginal crescents.

Contents

[edit] Range

Afghanistan, Pakistan, North India, Nepal, Bhutan, northern Myanmar, southern China and northern Vietnam.

In India, it is found in the states of Uttarakhand, Sikkim, Assam, Meghalaya, Nagaland and Manipur.

[edit] Status

It is not rare and not regarded as threatened. Subspecies A. l. kabrua is protected by law in India. Requires more information.[1]

[edit] Taxonomy

Three subspecies are described of which the following two occur in India :-

[edit] Description

  • Wingspan : 110 - 130mm.
  • Sexes generally alike. Tailed, with red tips.
  • Above, dull brownish-black.
  • Hindwing has a white discal band consisting of elongated spots in veins 2, 3 and 4.
  • The female has an additional small spot in vein 5 and only half way to vein 6.
  • It also has a series of lunules in veins 2 to 5 along the margin. The lunules in veins 2 to 4 are rose coloured while the lunule in vein 5 is white.
  • The male has a white scent wool brand in a dorsal fold. (Wynter-Blyth).
  • The male can be said to resemble the Common Rose, and, the female, the Common Mormon form stichius. (Haribal).

Male upperside dull brownish black. Fore wing with streaks in cell, the internervular streaks and the veins velvety black. Hind wing: ground-colour more uniform to apex of cell, beyond this interspaces 2, 3 and 4 with broad elongate white spots, the spot in interspace 2 slightly tinged outwardly with crimson; sometimes a white crimson-tinted spot also in interspace 1; a subterminal series of crimson lunules in interspaces 2 to 5, that in 5 generally more or less white ; lastly, a crimson spot at apex of vein 3 and on apex of tail. Underside similar, ground-colour much paler; markings of the hind wing as on the upperside, but slightly larger, the crimson spots brighter; in many specimens a small discal adnervular spot in interspace 5, and a sub-terminal small white lunule in interspace 6 also present; the crimson-tinted discal spot in interspace 1 always present. Antennae dark brownish black, head and front of the prothorax crimson, the rest of the body above black; beneath, the palpi, thorax and abdomen crimson, the middle of the thorax and of the abdomen with black markings.

Female Similar, slightly paler; the white and crimson markings on the hind wing on both upper and undersides similar but larger ;there is generally also a discal adnervular spot in interspace 5. Antennae, head, thorax and abdomen an in the male.[2]

[edit] Habits

  • It flies in May and June. It flies between 7000 to 9000 feet in Garhwal (near Mussoorie) and between 5000 to 6000 feet further east at Chungthang, North Sikkim in the Teesta valley.

[edit] Life History

  • Egg - not described.
  • Caterpillar - The larva is brownish to pale purple in colour. The larva has a shiny black head and a white obliquely-placed band on segments seven and eight. It has a large number of tubercles. The first six segments of the larva have one pair of tubercles; the seventh to tenth segments have three pairs each; the eleventh to thirteen segments each have two pairs of short tubercles. The tubercles are purple, have red tips and streaks on the base.
  • The pupa is reddish-orange in colour and relatively broad in shape. It is attached by a body band. The pupa emits a squeak when touched.

[edit] Food plant

[edit] Cited references

  1. ^ Collins, N.M. & Morris, M.G. (1985) Threatened Swallowtail Butterflies of the World. IUCN. ISBN 978-2-88032-603-6
  2. ^ Bingham, C. T. 1907. Fauna of British India. Butterflies. Volume 2

[edit] References

  • Evans, W.H. (1932) The Identification of Indian Butterflies. (2nd Ed), Bombay Natural History Society, Mumbai, India
  • Haribal, Meena (1994) Butterflies of Sikkim Himalaya and their Natural History.
  • Wynter-Blyth, M.A. (1957) Butterflies of the Indian Region, Bombay Natural History Society, Mumbai, India.

[edit] See also