Parides alopius

White-dotted Cattleheart
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Papilionidae
Genus: Parides
Species: P. alopius
Binomial name
Parides alopius
(Godman & Salvin, 1890)

The White-dotted Cattleheart (Parides alopius) is an endemic Mexican butterfly in the family Papilionidae. It has also strayed once into the United States in southeastern Arizona.[1]

Description

The upper side of the wings are black with the hind wing having two rows of submarginal spots: the first row, white; and the second row, pink. Males have fewer white spots than females. The underside of the wings are similar except the hind wing pink spots are more conspicuous.[1] It has a wingspan of 3–3.5 in (76–89 mm).

Flight

This species has been seen on the wing from March to November.[2]

Habitat

The White-dotted Cattleheart may be encountered in pine-oak forests.[2]

Life cycle

The larva is ringed with black and white bands and has yellow and reddish-brown fleshy projections. Each side of the body contains red, orange, and white spots. The chrysalis is shaped very similar to that of the Pipevine Swallowtail (Battus philenor). It is a blue-green color with the head, parts of the thorax, and abdomen a bright yellow-green color. It is unknown whether the chrysalis has a brown form or not.[3]

Host Plants

The only known recorded host plant for the White-dotted Cattleheart is Watson's Pipevine (Aristolochia watsonii).[1]

Status

Uncommon and known from very few localities, but is not known to be threatened.[4]

Etymology

Named in the Classical tradition. Alopius was the son of Antiope the daughter of Thespius.

References

  1. 1 2 3 Jim P. Brock and Kenn Kaufman (2003). Butterflies of North America. Houghton Mifflin, New York, NY. ISBN 0-618-15312-8
  2. 1 2 "White-dotted Cattleheart", Butterflies and Moths of North America
  3. ↑ "Parides alopius", Mariposa Mexicanas
  4. ↑ Tyler, H.A. (1975). The Swallowtail Butterflies of North America. Naturegraph Publishers, viii + 192 pp.

External links

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