Parides ascanius
| Fluminense swallowtail | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Lepidoptera |
| Family: | Papilionidae |
| Genus: | Parides |
| Species: | P. ascanius |
| Binomial name | |
| Parides ascanius (Cramer, 1775) | |
Parides ascanius, the Fluminense swallowtail, is a species of butterfly in the family Papilionidae. It is endemic to Brazil.
Description
A broad white band traverses both wings; on the hindwing it is more or less red. The larva is light brown, and bears pointed tubercles on all the segments.
Biology
Larvae are found from October to April, feeding on Aristolochia. Parides ascanius prefers wetland habitats.
Etymology
It is named in the classical tradition. In Roman mythology Ascanius is a legendary king. The common name, "Fluminense", is the demonym for residents of the state of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Sources
- Gimenez Dixon, M. (1996). Parides ascanius. 2006 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Downloaded on 31 July 2007.
References
- Lewis, H.L. (1974). Butterflies of the World ISBN 0-245-52097-X Page 26, figure 2.
Further reading
Otero, L.S.; Brown, K.S., Jr. (1986). Biology and ecology of Parides ascanius (Cramer, 1775) (Lep., Papilionidae), a primitive butterfly threatened with extinction Atala 10. Dez, pp. [2-16, 11 figs., 3 tabs.]
 |
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Parides ascanius. |