Battus polydamas

• Overview
• Interesting Facts
• Common Names
• Description
• Biology
• Taxonomy
• Similar Species
• More Info
• Further Reading
• Notes

Overview

Interesting Facts

Common Names

Description

Family Papilionidae

'The Papilionidae belong to the Superfamily Papilionoidea, the true butterflies. Swallowtails are worldwide in distribution and comprise approximately 560 species. They are richest in the tropics, and their brilliant colors make them favorites of butterfly enthusiasts. Many swallowtail species, especially in the tropics, mimic other butterflies that are distasteful, while others are distasteful and cause birds and other vertebrate predators to regurgitate. Swallowtail adults are medium to large and may or may not have tails, while parnassian adults are medium, tailless, and have translucent wings . All adult parnassians and swallowtails have three pairs of walking legs , and adults of all species visit flowers for nectar.

'[1]

Subfamily Papilioninae

Swallowtails are members of the Family Papilionidae. They comprise about 560 species, have a worldwide distribution, and are richest in the tropics. Many are brilliantly colored and are favorites of butterfly enthusiasts. Many species, especially those in the tropics, mimic other butterflies that are distasteful, while others are distasteful and cause birds and other vertebrate predators to regurgitate. Adults are medium to large, may or may not have tails, and have three pairs of walking legs . Adults of all species visit flowers for nectar. Males of most species patrol for mates, while males of one group (Black, Old World, Anise, and Indra Swallowtails) perch on hilltops or ridges instead of patrolling . Swallowtails lay globular eggs and overwinter as pupae. Some species spend more than one year in the pupal stage, likely to survive drought years when little caterpillar food is available. In arid areas, the Black, Anise, and Indra Swallowtails often display this strategy.

Physical Description

Habitat

Open woods , abandoned fields , disturbed areas.

Biology

Diet

Caterpillar hosts: Pipevines (Aristolochia species). Adult food: Nectar of lantana. Occasionally seen feeding on honeysuckle and soapweed flowers.

Reproduction

Female lays eggs in groups of 10-14 on exposed new stems or growing tips of vines . Caterpillars feed in groups when young. Overwinter as chrysalids.

Behavior

Flight: Two-3 flights from April-November.

Taxonomy

Synonyms

Battus polydamas atahualpa Racheli and Pischedda • Battus polydamas renani Lamas • Battus polydamas weyrauchi Lamas • Papilio archidamas Boisduval • Papilio polycrates Hopffer • Papilio polydamas antiquus Rothschild and Jordan • Papilio polydamas christopheranus Hall • Papilio polydamas dominicus Rothschild and Jordan • Papilio polydamas jamaicensis Rothschild and Jordan • Papilio polydamas lucayus Rothschild and Jordan • Papilio polydamas lucianus Rothschild and Jordan • Papilio polydamas thyamus Rothschild and Jordan • Papilio polydamas vincentius Rothschild and Jordan • Papilio streckerianus Honrath

Notes

Name Status: Accepted Name .

Comment: LT ([m ])

Last scrutiny: 24-Jun-2006

Similar Species

Members of the genus Battus

ZipcodeZoo has pages for 10 species and subspecies in this genus:

B. belus varus (Varus Swallowtail) · B. chalceus (Chalceus Swallowtail) · B. crassus (Crassus Swallowtail) · B. lycidas (Yellow-Trailed Swallowtail) · B. philenor (Pipevine Swallowtail) · B. polydamas (Gold Rim Swallowtail) · B. polydamas lucayus (Tailless Swallowtail) · B. polydamas polydamas (Gold-Rim Swallowtail) · B. polydamus (Polydamus Swallowtail) · B. zetides (Zetides Swallowtail)

More Info

• Search for Pictures: images.google.com
• Search for Scholarly Articles: Google Scholar
• Search using Scientific Name and Vernacular Names: All the Web | AltaVista Canada | AltaVista | Excite | Google | HotBot | Lycos
• Search using Specialized Databases: GenBank | Medline | Scirus | CISTI/CAL | Agricola Periodicals | Agricola Books

Further Reading

• British journal of entomology and natural history. [London]: British Entomological and Natural History Society, 1988- url p. 168.
• Journal of Hymenoptera research. Washington, D.C.: International Society of Hymenopterists, [1992- url p. 101, p. 97.
• Journal of the Kentucky Academy of Science. Lexington, KY: The Academy, 1998- url p. 175, p. 175, p. 87, p. 87.
• Proceedings and transactions of the British Entomological and Natural History Society. London, British Entomological and Natural History Society. url p. 103, p. 104.
• Threatened Swallowtail Butterflies of the World: the IUCN Red Data Book IUCN url p. 65.

Notes

Contributors

• Brands, S.J. (comp.) 1989-present. The Taxonomicon. Universal Taxonomic Services, Zwaag, The Netherlands. Accessed January 9, 2012.
• GloBIS (GART)
• GloBIS (GART): Global Butterfly Information System. Release date: November 23, 2008
• Global Biodiversity Information Facility. Accessed November 14, 2007. http://www.gbif.org Mediated distribution data from provider.
• LepIndex: The Global Lepidoptera Names Index
• Opler, Paul A., Kelly Lotts, and Thomas Naberhaus, coordinators. 2009. Butterflies and Moths of North America. Bozeman, MT: Big Sky Institute. http://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/ (Version of April 17, 2009).
• Ruggiero M., Gordon D., Bailly N., Kirk P., Nicolson D. (2011). The Catalogue of Life Taxonomic Classification, Edition 2, Part A. In: Species 2000 & ITIS Catalogue of Life: 2011 Annual Checklist (Bisby F.A., Roskov Y.R., Orrell T.M., Nicolson D., Paglinawan L.E., Bailly N., Kirk P.M., Bourgoin T., Baillargeon G., Ouvrard D., eds). DVD; Species 2000: Reading, UK.

Data Sources

Accessed through GBIF Data Portal December 05, 2007:

• University of Navarra, Museum of Zoology, Museum of Zoology, University of Navarra

Identifiers

• Biodiversity Heritage Library NamebankID: 2603207
• Catalogue of Life Accepted Name Code: Gar-378
• Global Biodiversity Information Facility Taxonkey: 14710411
• Natural Heritage Network Species Identifier: IILEP92020
• Zipcode Zoo Species Identifier: 172585

Footnotes

1. http://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/taxonomy?f=14&sci=Papilionidae&com=Parnassians and Swallowtails [back]

©2004-2012 David Stang. All rights reserved.