Butterflies of
temperate Asia
Eversmann's Apollo
Parnassius delphius
EVERSMANN, 1843
Family - PAPILIONIDAE
subfamily -
PARNASSIINAE
Tribe -
Parnassius delphius namanganus,
Alabel Pass,
Kyrgyzstan
© E. Zinszner
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, but delphius is quite
widespread, being found from Afghanistan to northern India, and across central
temperate Asia to Tibet and western China.
Habitats
This species
breeds on rocky mountainsides, typically choosing sites
where there are flat boulders on which they can bask, and crevices or hollows in
which they can hide during bad weather. The butterflies are generally found at
altitudes between about 2000-3300m.
Lifecycle
The larval foodplants include Cysticorydalis
and Corydalis.
Adult behaviour
To be completed.
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