Pachliopta hector

Crimson rose
Male in typical basking pose
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Papilionidae
Genus: Pachliopta
Species: P. hector
Binomial name
Pachliopta hector[1]
(Linnaeus, 1758)[1]
Synonyms

Atrophaneura hector

Male in Hyderabad, India

The crimson rose (Pachliopta hector) is a large swallowtail butterfly belonging to the genus Pachliopta (roses) of the red-bodied swallowtails.

Range

It is found in India and Sri Lanka and possibly the coast of western Myanmar.

In India, it is found in the Western Ghats, southern India (Kerala), eastern India (West Bengal and Odisha). It is a straggler in the Andaman Islands.[2]

Status

Generally common and not known to be threatened. It is common all along the Western Ghats up to Maharashtra but rare in Gujarat. Protected by law in India.

Description

Male in Hyderabad, India

The male's upperside is black. Fore wing with a broad white interrupted band from the subcostal nervure opposite the origin of veins 10 and 11, extended obliquely to the tornus, and a second short pre-apical similar band; both bands composed of detached irregularly indented broad streaks in the interspaces. Hind wing with a diseal posteriorly strongly curved series of seven crimson spots followed by a subterminal series of crimson lunules. Cilia black alternated with white. Underside: fore whig dull brownish black, hind wing black; markings as on the npporsido, but the crimson spots and crescentic markings on the hind wing larger. Antennae, thorax and abdomen abovo at base, black; head and rest of the abdomen bright crimson; beneath: iho palpi, the sides of the thorax and abdomen crimson.

The female is similar, the discal series of spots and subterminal lunules much duller, pale crimson irrorated with black scales; in some specimens the anterior spots and lunules almost white barely tinged with crimson; abdomen above with the black colour extended further towards the apex.[3]

No geographic races have been described.

Habitat

This butterfly is at home both in jungle and in open country. During the dry season, it will be found up to 8000 feet (2400 m) in South India, but it is found all the year round at lower elevations.

Habits

Female crimson rose nectar-feeding on Lantana

It is a very striking tailed butterfly with prominent white bands on its forewings. The crimson rose is very fond of flowers especially Lantana. Nectar appears to be essential for the butterfly and a higher nectar intake is thought to increase egg production.

Close to the ground, the flight of the crimson rose is slow and fluttering but steady. At greater heights, it flies faster and stronger. It basks with its wings spread flat, sometimes in small congregations at heights of 10 to 15 metres up in the trees.

The butterfly often roosts for the night in large companies on the twigs and branches of trees and shrubs, sometimes accompanied by a few common Mormons. When resting the butterfly draws its forewings halfway between the hindwings. The butterfly sleeps on slanting outstretched branches or twigs of trees or bushes.

Aposematism and mimicry

Common Mormon Papilio polytes (female romulus form) mimic of crimson rose

The red body, slow peculiar flight, bright colouration and pattern of the wings are meant to indicate to predators that this butterfly is inedible, being well protected by the poisons it has sequestered from its larval food plant. Its flight and behaviour is much like that of the common Mormon. Like that butterfly, it too is inedible and rarely attacked by predators. This has led to this butterfly also being mimicked by a female morph of the common Mormon (Papilio polytes), in this case, the female form romulus.

Migration

The most striking aspect of the butterfly's behaviour is its strong migratory tendencies. During the peak of its season, several thousands of crimson roses can be found congregating and then they begin migrating to other areas.

In the Entomologist's Monthly Magazine, 1880, p. 276, Mr. R. S. Eaton notes that in Bombay this butterfly roosted in great numbers together, however Bingham notes that in the Western Ghats between Vengurla and Belgaum, where the butterfly occurred in some numbers and had the habit of roosting in company on twigs of some thorny shrub, but never saw more than a score or so together.[3]

Life cycle

Higher numbers of them are seen during August–November and also during April–June. They breed up to seven times in the year and it has been found to take only 39–47 days from egg to adult.

Eggs

Similar to those of the common rose, the eggs hatch in seven days.

Caterpillars

The caterpillars of the crimson rose are similar to those of the common rose, but are purplish-black or blackish-brown. They have a black head and orange osmeterium. Their bodies are fat, with orange-red tubercles and a prominent yellowish-white band transeversely placed on segments six to eight. The caterpillar has five instars. The caterpillars are known to display cannibalistic behaviour. Hence the name hector.

Pupa

The pupa is pinkish brown with darker expanded wing-cases. The wing like expansions on the abdomen are distinctive.

Food plants

The larvae of the species breed on various species of Aristolochia including Aristolochia indica, Aristolochia bracteolata, and Thottea siliquosa. The species is unpalatable as they sequester chemical compounds in their larval stages including aristolochic acid from the host plants.[4]

Nectar resources

The nectar sources of the crimson rose with details of the flowering period are as follows :

Etymology

In common with other early naturalists Liinaeus followed the classical tradition. The name honours the Greek hero Hector.

See also

Cited references

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Häuser, Christoph L.; de Jong, Rienk; Lamas, Gerardo; Robbins, Robert K.; Smith, Campbell; Vane-Wright, Richard I. (28 July 2005). "Papilionidae – revised GloBIS/GART species checklist (2nd draft)". Entomological Data Information System. Staatliches Museum für Naturkunde Stuttgart, Germany. Retrieved 21 June 2013.
  2. ↑ Cotton, Adam; Fric, Zdenek Faltynek; Smith, Colin & Smetacek, Peter (March 2013). "Subspecies catalogue of the butterflies of India (Papilionidae): A Synopsis". Bionotes 15 (1): 5–8.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 Bingham, C. T. 1907. Fauna of British India. Butterflies. Volume 2
  4. ↑ Sime K.R., Feeny, P.P. and Haribal, M.M. (2000) Sequestration of aristolochic acids by the pipevine swallowtail, Battus philenor (L.): evidence and ecological implications. Chemoecology 10:169–178

References

External links

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