Parnassius smintheus
| Rocky Mountain Parnassian | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Lepidoptera |
| Family: | Papilionidae |
| Genus: | Parnassius |
| Species: | P. smintheus |
| Binomial name | |
| Parnassius smintheus Doubleday, [1847] | |
The Rocky Mountain Parnassian[1] or Mountain Parnassian[2] (Parnassius smintheus) is a high-altitude butterfly which is found in the U.S. and Canada. It is a member of the Snow Apollo genus Parnassius of the Swallowtail (Papilionidae) family.
Description
This mostly white butterfly has red spots in the centres of the hindwing that distinguish it from other Parnassians. They also have dark spots on the forewing and dark wing margins and submargins.[1] Although this butterfly is in the swallowtail family it has no tail.
They have one flight, from June to mid-August.[3]
Larvae feed on Sedum lanceolatum, Sedum roseum, Sedum divergens, Sedum stenopetalum, and Sedum oreganum.[2][3]
Subspecies
Listed alphabetically.[2]
- P. s. magnus Wright, 1905
- P. s. olympiannus Burdick, 1941
- P. s. pseudorotgeri Eisner, 1966
- P. s. smintheus Doubleday, [1847]
- P. s. sternitzkyi McDunnough, 1936
- P. s. xanthus Ehrmann, 1918
- P. s. yukonensis Eisner, 1969
Distribution
From mountainous areas of Yukon, Alaska, and British Columbia and south as far as New Mexico.[1]
The Rocky Mountain Parnassian lives throughout the western United States year-round.[4] It is found in all of the life zones of the rocky mountains, including the montane, subalpine, and alpine zones.[5]
Similar species
- Clodius Parnassian (P. clodius)
- Eversmann's Parnassian (P. eversmanni)
Further reading
- Guppy, C. S, 1998 Notes on Parnassius smintheus Doubleday (Papilionidae) on Vancouver Island Journal of the Lepidopterists' Society 1998 Volume 52: 115 – 118 pdf
References
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Wikispecies has information related to: Parnassius smintheus |
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Jim P. Brock and K. Kaufman. Kaufman Field Guide to Butterflies of North America, New York, NY:Houghton Mifflin, 2003.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Parnassius, funet.fi
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Rocky Mountain Parnassian, Butterflies of Canada
- ↑ http://fieldguide.mt.gov/detail_IILEP90050.aspx
- ↑ http://www.nps.gov/romo/naturescience/butterfly-families.htm