Papilio alexanor

Alexanor
Protected
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Papilionidae
Genus: Papilio
Species: P. alexanor
Binomial name
Papilio alexanor
Esper, 1799

The Alexanor or Southern Swallowtail (Papilio alexanor) is a butterfly species in the Papilionidae or swallowtails.

The insect has a wingspan of 62–70 mm. It flies from April to July in a single generation, in mountainous regions (1700 m.) of Europe, Asia Minor, the Balkans, and Asia ( Anatolia, Iran, Afghanistan, Pakistan to West Tian-Shan).

On an Azerbaijan stamp

Description

Papilio alexanor is similar to Papilio machaon however, the basal third of the forewing is not entirely black, but bordered basally and distally by a broad black band. The bands are continued across the hindwing, bordering also here the yellow basal area.

The larva is similar to that of P. machaon but more variegated, the red dots larger and brighter; it is easy to find, since the stalks of the plants on which it feeds become white, the epidermis being gnawed. Pupa stone-grey, very flat, with carinate sides and uneven surface; fastened on stones and resembling a small stone-splinter.

Subspecies

Biology

The larva feeds on Umbelliferae, notably Trinia vulgaris, Seseli montanum, Ptychotis saxifraga, Opopanax chironium, and number of Ferula species.[1]

Protection

It is a protected species.

References

External links


This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the Saturday, January 16, 2016. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.