Papilio paris
Encyclopedia
The Paris Peacock, Papilio paris, is a species of swallowtail
butterfly
found in South Asia
.
.
On the hindwing, the irroration of dark green scales does not extend to the costal margin and is interrupted posteriorly by a broad postdiscal area, on both sides of which the green scales coalesce to form narrow diffuse bands; a conspicuous upper discal shining blue patch occupies the base of interspace 4 and outer portions of interspaces 5 and 6; this patch is variable in size, and in many specimens extends narrowly below and above the interspaces 3 and 7, respectively, its outer margin is uneven, its inner margin evenly arched; a prominent claret-red largely black-centred ocellus at the tornal angle, its inner margin with a transverse short violet-blue superposed line; in many specimens an obscure claret-red subterminal lunule in interspace 7.
Underside opaque black; bases of both fore and hind wings, up to basal half of cell in fore and up to apex of cell in hind wing, with an irroration of yellowish scales; also present more obscurely on the subterminal area in both wings. Fore wing with a very broad elongate triangular pale area that does not extend to the termen, formed of inter-nervular broad very pale ochraceous-white streaks, short near the tornus
, gradually longer up to the costa. Hind wing: a prominent subterminal series of ochraceous-red lunules traversed by short violet-blue lines; in interspaces 1,2 and sometimes in 3, these lunules are formed into more or less complete largely black centred ocelli by the addition of an admarginal portion of the red ring. Cilia conspicuously white in the interspaces. Antennae, head, thorax and abdomen black, the latter three sprinkled with green scales above.
Underside of wings similar to that in the male, but the tornal and subtornal markings generally formed into more or less complete ocelli.
Wingspan: 106-132 mm
to Sikkim
, Nepal
and Bhutan
; the hills of Assam, Burma and Tenasserim, extending to China, Siam and the Malay Peninsula. A common insect in Sikkim, where it is found from the Terai
up to 5,000 feet. It is rare in Burma and Tenasserim. It also occurs in some parts of the Western Ghats, such as the Chikmaglure b.b.hill ranges.
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
Butterfly
A butterfly is a mainly day-flying insect of the order Lepidoptera, which includes the butterflies and moths. Like other holometabolous insects, the butterfly's life cycle consists of four parts: egg, larva, pupa and adult. Most species are diurnal. Butterflies have large, often brightly coloured...
found in South Asia
South Asia
South Asia, also known as Southern Asia, is the southern region of the Asian continent, which comprises the sub-Himalayan countries and, for some authorities , also includes the adjoining countries to the west and the east...
.
Male
Upperwings are black and irrorated with dark green scales, which on the outer portion of the forewing coalesce and form an incomplete postdiscal narrow band which is straighter than the similar subterminal band on the forewing of Papilio polyctorPapilio polyctor
The Common Peacock is a beautiful swallowtail butterfly found in India. It is found in the Himalayas and parts of India from the foothills to 7000 feet between March and October. It has distinct dry and wet season forms. The butterfly frequents Buddleia flowers...
.
On the hindwing, the irroration of dark green scales does not extend to the costal margin and is interrupted posteriorly by a broad postdiscal area, on both sides of which the green scales coalesce to form narrow diffuse bands; a conspicuous upper discal shining blue patch occupies the base of interspace 4 and outer portions of interspaces 5 and 6; this patch is variable in size, and in many specimens extends narrowly below and above the interspaces 3 and 7, respectively, its outer margin is uneven, its inner margin evenly arched; a prominent claret-red largely black-centred ocellus at the tornal angle, its inner margin with a transverse short violet-blue superposed line; in many specimens an obscure claret-red subterminal lunule in interspace 7.
Underside opaque black; bases of both fore and hind wings, up to basal half of cell in fore and up to apex of cell in hind wing, with an irroration of yellowish scales; also present more obscurely on the subterminal area in both wings. Fore wing with a very broad elongate triangular pale area that does not extend to the termen, formed of inter-nervular broad very pale ochraceous-white streaks, short near the tornus
Glossary of Lepidopteran terms
This glossary describes the terms used in the formal descriptions of insect species, jargon used mostly by professionals or entomologist....
, gradually longer up to the costa. Hind wing: a prominent subterminal series of ochraceous-red lunules traversed by short violet-blue lines; in interspaces 1,2 and sometimes in 3, these lunules are formed into more or less complete largely black centred ocelli by the addition of an admarginal portion of the red ring. Cilia conspicuously white in the interspaces. Antennae, head, thorax and abdomen black, the latter three sprinkled with green scales above.
Female
Similar to the male but somewhat paler and duller. Upperside of the forewing has the green postdiscal band shorter and more incomplete than in the male. Hindwing with the upper discal patch smaller, often green and not blue, the red subterminal lunule in interspace 7 is always present and more prominent than in the male.Underside of wings similar to that in the male, but the tornal and subtornal markings generally formed into more or less complete ocelli.
Wingspan: 106-132 mm
Distribution
The Himalayas from KumaonKumaon Division
For Kumaoni/Kumauni People see Kumauni PeopleKumaon or Kumaun is one of the two regions and administrative divisions of Uttarakhand, a mountainous state of northern India, the other being Garhwal. It includes the districts of Almora, Bageshwar, Champawat, Nainital, Pithoragarh, and Udham Singh Nagar...
to Sikkim
Sikkim
Sikkim is a landlocked Indian state nestled in the Himalayan mountains...
, Nepal
Nepal
Nepal , officially the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal, is a landlocked sovereign state located in South Asia. It is located in the Himalayas and bordered to the north by the People's Republic of China, and to the south, east, and west by the Republic of India...
and Bhutan
Bhutan
Bhutan , officially the Kingdom of Bhutan, is a landlocked state in South Asia, located at the eastern end of the Himalayas and bordered to the south, east and west by the Republic of India and to the north by the People's Republic of China...
; the hills of Assam, Burma and Tenasserim, extending to China, Siam and the Malay Peninsula. A common insect in Sikkim, where it is found from the Terai
Terai
The Terai is a belt of marshy grasslands, savannas, and forests located south of the outer foothills of the Himalaya, the Siwalik Hills, and north of the Indo-Gangetic Plain of the Ganges, Brahmaputra and their tributaries. The Terai belongs to the Terai-Duar savanna and grasslands ecoregion...
up to 5,000 feet. It is rare in Burma and Tenasserim. It also occurs in some parts of the Western Ghats, such as the Chikmaglure b.b.hill ranges.
See also
- Tamil PeacockPapilio paris tamilanaThe Tamil Peacock is an endemic swallowtail butterfly found in southern India.-Description:Race tamilana , very closely resembles the typical form , but on the upperside the upper discal patch on the hind wing is of a paler more metallic blue and very considerably larger, it extends from...
Papilio paris tamilana - Papilionidae
- List of butterflies of India
- List of butterflies of India (Papilionidae)