Butterflies of the the Indian
subcontinent
Crimson Rose
Atrophaneura
hector
LINNAEUS, 1758
Family -
PAPILIONIDAE
subfamily -
PAPILIONINAE
Tribe - TROIDINI
Atrophaneura hector
Mumbai, India
© Anand Narkevar
Introduction
The subfamily Papilioninae consists of
about 550 species worldwide. These are divided into 4 tribes - Leptocircini ( Jays
), Papilionini ( Swallowtails ), Teinopalpini ( Kaiser-i-Hinds ), and Troidini.
The Troidini includes the
Parides Cattlehearts of South America, the
Ornithoptera Paradise Birdwings of New Guinea, and
the Troides
and Trogonoptera Birdwings of tropical Asia, and Atrophaneura.
The various members of the
genus Atrophaneura
are known as Windmills, Batwings,
Club-tails and Roses.
Together they total about 45 species. The red body and head are found
in almost species.
In most
Atrophaneura species the hindwings have
spatulate tails and are marked with a single row of prominent red submarginal spots
and a large white central patch. The latter is absent however in
hector, which also differs in having a double row
of red spots.
Atrophaneura are unpalateable to birds, and are mimicked in appearance by
several edible species. Papilio polytes for example
produces several different female forms or "morphs", including romulus
"f. polytes" which is a near perfect double of
Atrophaneura hector.
Atrophaneura hector is found across most of India, and in
Sri Lanka.
Habitats
This is very common species can be found in numerous
habitats including lowland rainforest, semi-deciduous woodlands, beach hinterlands,
acacia thickets, farmland, city parks and gardens.
Lifecycle
The larval foodplants are Aristolochia and
Thottea ( Aristolochiaceae ).
Adult behaviour
Both sexes roam widely, fluttering and gliding gracefully but
rapidly across the countryside. They nectar avidly at wild and
cultivated flowers, while constantly fluttering their wings to maintain their position.
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