Pachliopta pandiyana
Encyclopedia
Malabar Rose is a swallowtail
butterfly belonging to the Pachliopta subgenus, the Roses, of the genus Atrophaneura
or the Red-bodied Swallowtails. It resembles the Common Rose (Atrophaneura aristolochiae) from which it can be differentiated by the much larger white patch on its hindwings.
It is an important endemic
butterfly of South India
.
This was earlier considered a race of Atrophaneura jophon found in Sri Lanka
.
Description of A. jophon - Male upperside black. Fore wing with three or four broad white streaks in cell and a variable number of similar somewhat broader streaks that are bifid along their apical half in the interspaces beyond; these streaks do not reach the terminal margin and become obsolete towards the costal margin of the wing. Hind wing: the apical half of the cell and short apically truncate streaks in the interspaces beyond white; these streaks broad, divided only by the black veins, followed by a subterminal curved series of crimson lunules irrorated with black scales. Underside similar, the markings more distinct and more sharply defined, the discal white streaks and the subterminal series of crimson spots each seven in number. Antennae, head, thorax and abdomen above up to the preanal segment black; the head in front and beneath, the thorax at the sides and the apical half of the abdomen crimson, the last with one or two black lateral spots.— Female similar; fore wing broader, the while and crimson markings larger and more conspicuous.
Race pandiyanus, Moore.—"Though closely allied to A. jophon Gray, this species is constantly different in pattern. The white colour of the fore wings is much more extended, especially in the apical region, but also more shaded with black scales; the internervular black streaks between the median nervures (veins 4-6) are much longer, the white linear markings, in the cell reach the discocellular veinlets. On the hind wing the last discal white spot reaches mostly to the submedian nervure (vein 1), the anterior one is very large in the male, small or divided into two spots, or obliterated in the female...". (Rothschild, quoted in Bingham)
, which it resembles. On the western slopes of the Nilgiris
and elsewhere on the Western Ghats
, the Malabar Rose entirely displaces that most abundant butterfly.
.
, between 1000 to 3000 feet (914.4 m).
Swallowtail butterfly
Swallowtail butterflies are large, colorful butterflies that form the family Papilionidae. There are over 550 species, and though the majority are tropical, members of the family are found on all continents except Antarctica...
butterfly belonging to the Pachliopta subgenus, the Roses, of the genus Atrophaneura
Atrophaneura
Atrophaneura, commonly referred to as the Red-bodied Swallowtails is a genus of butterflies in the Swallowtail family that are generally found in Asia.-Species:Listed alphabetically within groups:The latreillei species-group:...
or the Red-bodied Swallowtails. It resembles the Common Rose (Atrophaneura aristolochiae) from which it can be differentiated by the much larger white patch on its hindwings.
It is an important endemic
Endemic (ecology)
Endemism is the ecological state of being unique to a defined geographic location, such as an island, nation or other defined zone, or habitat type; organisms that are indigenous to a place are not endemic to it if they are also found elsewhere. For example, all species of lemur are endemic to the...
butterfly of South India
South India
South India is the area encompassing India's states of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu as well as the union territories of Lakshadweep and Pondicherry, occupying 19.31% of India's area...
.
Description
- See glossaryGlossary of Lepidopteran termsThis glossary describes the terms used in the formal descriptions of insect species, jargon used mostly by professionals or entomologist....
for terms used
This was earlier considered a race of Atrophaneura jophon found in Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka, officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka is a country off the southern coast of the Indian subcontinent. Known until 1972 as Ceylon , Sri Lanka is an island surrounded by the Indian Ocean, the Gulf of Mannar and the Palk Strait, and lies in the vicinity of India and the...
.
Description of A. jophon - Male upperside black. Fore wing with three or four broad white streaks in cell and a variable number of similar somewhat broader streaks that are bifid along their apical half in the interspaces beyond; these streaks do not reach the terminal margin and become obsolete towards the costal margin of the wing. Hind wing: the apical half of the cell and short apically truncate streaks in the interspaces beyond white; these streaks broad, divided only by the black veins, followed by a subterminal curved series of crimson lunules irrorated with black scales. Underside similar, the markings more distinct and more sharply defined, the discal white streaks and the subterminal series of crimson spots each seven in number. Antennae, head, thorax and abdomen above up to the preanal segment black; the head in front and beneath, the thorax at the sides and the apical half of the abdomen crimson, the last with one or two black lateral spots.— Female similar; fore wing broader, the while and crimson markings larger and more conspicuous.
Race pandiyanus, Moore.—"Though closely allied to A. jophon Gray, this species is constantly different in pattern. The white colour of the fore wings is much more extended, especially in the apical region, but also more shaded with black scales; the internervular black streaks between the median nervures (veins 4-6) are much longer, the white linear markings, in the cell reach the discocellular veinlets. On the hind wing the last discal white spot reaches mostly to the submedian nervure (vein 1), the anterior one is very large in the male, small or divided into two spots, or obliterated in the female...". (Rothschild, quoted in Bingham)
Range
Southern India. The butterfly does not associate much with the Common RosePachliopta aristolochiae
The Common Rose is a swallowtail butterfly belonging to the Pachliopta subgenus, the Roses, of the genus Atrophaneura or Red-bodied Swallowtails. It is a common butterfly which is extensively distributed across South and South East Asia.-Range:It is widely distributed in Asia...
, which it resembles. On the western slopes of the Nilgiris
Nilgiris (mountains)
The Nilgiri , often referred to as the Nilgiri Hills, are a range of mountains with at least 24 peaks above , in the westernmost part of Tamil Nadu state at the junction of Karnataka and Kerala states in Southern India...
and elsewhere on the Western Ghats
Western Ghats
The Western Ghats, Western Ghauts or the Sahyādri is a mountain range along the western side of India. It runs north to south along the western edge of the Deccan Plateau, and separates the plateau from a narrow coastal plain along the Arabian Sea. The Western Ghats block rainfall to the Deccan...
, the Malabar Rose entirely displaces that most abundant butterfly.
Status
Uncommon, but not considered to be threatened as a species. Locally common in the Western GhatsWestern Ghats
The Western Ghats, Western Ghauts or the Sahyādri is a mountain range along the western side of India. It runs north to south along the western edge of the Deccan Plateau, and separates the plateau from a narrow coastal plain along the Arabian Sea. The Western Ghats block rainfall to the Deccan...
.
Taxonomy
- A related species, Atrophaneura jophon, once considered conspecific, flies in Sri LankaSri LankaSri Lanka, officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka is a country off the southern coast of the Indian subcontinent. Known until 1972 as Ceylon , Sri Lanka is an island surrounded by the Indian Ocean, the Gulf of Mannar and the Palk Strait, and lies in the vicinity of India and the...
. - No separate subspecies have been described.
Habitat
This butterfly is confined to the wet jungles of Southern India and the Western GhatsWestern Ghats
The Western Ghats, Western Ghauts or the Sahyādri is a mountain range along the western side of India. It runs north to south along the western edge of the Deccan Plateau, and separates the plateau from a narrow coastal plain along the Arabian Sea. The Western Ghats block rainfall to the Deccan...
, between 1000 to 3000 feet (914.4 m).
Habits
The flight of this butterfly resembles that of the Common Rose Atrophaneura aristolochiae. Early in the morning till about 10 O'clock, it keeps low and feeds from flowers, usually those of the Lantana. Later in the day it flies high and is difficult to capture.See also
- LepidopteraLepidopteraLepidoptera is a large order of insects that includes moths and butterflies . It is one of the most widespread and widely recognizable insect orders in the world, encompassing moths and the three superfamilies of butterflies, skipper butterflies, and moth-butterflies...
- Butterflies
- Papilionidae
- List of butterflies of India
- List of butterflies of India (Papilionidae)
External links
- http://www.angelfire.com/journal2/chinfahshin/history/rose.html
- http://www.srilankaninsects.net/Butterflies/Papilionidae/CommonRose/CommonRose.htm