Battus lycidas

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Cramer's swallowtail
Papilionidae - Battus lycidas.jpg
Museum specimen of Battus lycidas, male
Battus lycidas. Cramer's Swallowtail. Troidini (41089102862).jpg
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Papilionidae
Genus: Battus
Species:
B. lycidas
Binomial name
Battus lycidas
(Cramer, [1777])
Synonyms
  • Papilio lycidasCramer, [1777]
  • Papilio erymanthusCramer, [1777]

Battus lycidas is a species of butterfly in the family Papilionidae native to the Neotropical realm. It is commonly known as Cramer's swallowtail, the Lycidas swallowtail, and the yellow-trailed swallowtail. [1] [2] [3]

Contents

Description

The wingspan of Battus lycidas can reach 10–11 millimetres (0.39–0.43 in). Wings are basically black, with yellow markings and a greenish structure-colour. The hind wings are tailless. This species shows a sexual dimorphism, as in males hind wings have anal androconial creamy yellow patches and the abdomen is yellow cream, while in the females hind wings have faint pale yellow spots forming a discontinuous strip in the middle area. Little is known about this species, but it is not considered threatened. [2] Adults fly in May and June visiting flowers of Warscewiczia coccinea (Rubiaceae) and blooms of Vochysia guatemalensis (Vochysiaceae). The larvae of Battus lycidas feed on Aristolochia huberiana . [4] and on Aristolochia constricta .

Distribution

This species can be found from Mexico to northern Bolivia and southern Pará, Brazil. [1] It is rare in Costa Rica. [2]

Habitat

These butterflies prefer the canopy, the margins of streams and clearings, at an elevation of 0–800 metres (0–2,625 ft) above sea level.

Related Research Articles

<i>Battus</i> (butterfly) Genus of butterflies

Battus is a New World genus of butterflies that are usually found around pipevine plants. The caterpillars feed off the poisonous pipevines, making the insects poisonous themselves; they taste very bad to ward off predators. Since birds avoid these butterflies, other swallowtail species mimic their coloration. The common North American species are Battus polydamas and Battus philenor.

<i>Battus philenor</i> Species of butterfly

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<i>Battus zetides</i> Species of butterfly

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<i>Battus laodamas</i> Species of butterfly

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<i>Parides eurimedes</i> Species of butterfly

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<i>Parides photinus</i> Species of butterfly

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<i>Battus eracon</i> Species of butterfly

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<i>Battus ingenuus</i> Species of butterfly

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<i>Battus devilliersii</i> Species of butterfly

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<i>Battus madyes</i> Species of butterfly

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<i>Battus belus</i> Species of butterfly

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<i>Battus crassus</i> Species of butterfly

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<i>Battus polystictus</i> Species of butterfly

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<i>Euryades corethrus</i> Species of butterfly

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<i>Parides phalaecus</i> Species of butterfly

Parides phaleucas is a species of butterfly in the family Papilionidae. It was described by William Chapman Hewitson in 1869. It is found in Ecuador and Peru.

<i>Mimoides pausanias</i> Species of butterfly

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<i>Parides orellana</i> Species of butterfly

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<i>Parides phosphorus</i> Species of butterfly

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<i>Eurytides calliste</i> Species of butterfly

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References

  1. 1 2 Warren, A. D.; et al. (2010). "Battus lycidas". Butterflies of America. Retrieved 26 January 2011.
  2. 1 2 3 Collins, N. Mark; Morris, Michael G. (1985). Threatened Swallowtail Butterflies of the World: The IUCN Red Data Book. Gland & Cambridge: IUCN. p. 66. ISBN   978-2-88032-603-6 – via Biodiversity Heritage Library.
  3. ↑ Glassberg, Jeffrey (2007). A Swift Guide to the Butterflies of Mexico and Central America. Sunstreak Books Inc. p. 9. ISBN   978-1-4243-0915-3.
  4. ↑ Savela, Markku. "Battus lycidas". funet.fi. Retrieved 26 January 2011.

Further reading


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