Parnassius boëdromius

Parnassius boëdromius
Female in collection Ulster Museum
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Papilionidae
Genus: Parnassius
Species: P. boëdromius
Binomial name
Parnassius boëdromius
Püngeler, 1901

Parnassius boëdromius is a high altitude butterfly which is found in Asia. It has a restricted range, known only along the borders of Kirghizia, Kazakhstan and Xinjiang, China. Formerly a subspecies of Parnassius simo. It is a member of the Snow Apollo genus Parnassius of the Swallowtail (Papilionidae) family.

Description

Note. The wing pattern in Parnassius species is inconsistent and the very many subspecies and forms make identification problematic and uncertain. Structural characters derived from the genitalia, wing venation, sphragis and foretibial epiphysis are more, but not entirely reliable. The description given here is a guide only.For an identification key see Ackery P.R. (1975[1]

Parnassius boëdromius is distinguished by a reduction of the markings. On forewing the discal band almost entirely absent, no red spots either above or below, ocelli vestigial.[2]

References

  1. ↑ Ackery P.R. (1975) A guide to the genera and species of Parnassiinae (Lepidoptera:Papilionidae). Bull. Br. Mus. nat. Hist. (Ent.) 31, 4 pdf
  2. ↑ Stichel in Seitz, 1906 (Parnassius). Die Groß-Schmetterlinge der Erde. Die Groß-Schmetterlinge des palaearktischen Faunengebietes. Die palaearktischen Tagfalter, Stuttgart.