Butterflies of
temperate Asia
Regal Apollo
Parnassius charitonius
GRAY, 1853
Family - PAPILIONIDAE
subfamily -
PARNASSIINAE
Tribe -
Parnassius charitonius, Shandur
Pass, Pakistan
© J-F. Charmeux
Introduction
The genus
Parnassius, known commonly as Apollos, comprises of
54 species. Three of these are endemic to North America, a further 2 are found
both in North America and the Palaearctic, and the remainder are distributed
variously across Europe and temperate Asia.
Parnassius are
instantly recognisable as a genus, having rounded translucent whitish wings that
in most species are adorned with prominent white-centred red ocelli. Unlike most
other Papilionidae they have short antennae with non-recurved tips.
Many
Parnassius species are exceedingly rare and have a
very localised distribution.
Parnassius charitonius
is found in Afghanistan, Pakistan, northern India, and across central Asia to
Tibet.
Habitats
This species
breeds on almost barren mountainsides at very high altitudes ( up to at least
4100m ).
Lifecycle
The larval foodplant is Corydalis.
Adult behaviour
To be completed.
|
