Battus (butterfly)

Battus
Pipevine Swallowtail
Battus philenor
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Papilionidae
Subfamily: Papilioninae
Tribe: Troidini
Genus: Battus
Scopoli, 1777
Species

See text

Battus is a New World genus of butterflies that are usually found around pipevine (genus Aristolochia) plants. The caterpillars feed off the poisonous pipevines, making the insects poisonous themselves; they taste very bad to ward off predators.[1] Since birds avoid these butterflies, other swallowtail species mimic their coloration. The common North American species are Battus polydamas and Battus philenor.

Etymology

In Greek mythology, Battus is a shepherd who witnessed Hermes stealing Apollo's cattle. Because he broke his promise not to reveal this theft, Hermes turned him to stone.

Species

Listed alphabetically within groups.[2][3]

subgenus: Battuosa Möhn, 1999

species group: belus Möhn, 1999
species group: madyes Möhn, 1999

subgenus: Battus Möhn, 1999

species group: philenor
species group: polydamus Möhn, 1999
  • Battus polydamas (Linnaeus, 1758) – Polydamas Swallowtail, Gold Rim Swallowtail, or Tailless Swallowtail

References

  1. Pinheiro, Carlos E.G. (1996) Palatability and escaping ability in Neotropical butterflies: tests with wild kingbirds (Tyrannus melancholicus, Tyrannidae). Biol. J. Linn. Soc. 59(4): 351–365. HTML abstract
  2. Battus, funet.fi
  3. Glassberg, J. (2007) A Swift Guide to the Butterflies of Mexico and Central America, Sunstreak Books, pp.8-9.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Battus (butterfly).
Wikispecies has information related to: Battus


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