| White-dotted cattleheart | |
|---|---|
 | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Lepidoptera |
| Family: | Papilionidae |
| Genus: | Parides |
| Species: | P. alopius |
| Binomial name | |
| Parides alopius | |
 | |
Parides alopius, the white-dotted cattleheart, is an endemic Mexican butterfly in the family Papilionidae. It has also strayed once into the United States in southeastern Arizona. [1]
The upperside of the wings is black with the hindwing having two rows of submarginal spots: the first row, white; and the second row, pink. Males have fewer white spots than females. The underside of the wings are similar except the hindwing pink spots are more conspicuous. [1] It has a wingspan of 3–3.5 in (76–89 mm).A full description is provided by Rothschild, W. and Jordan, K. (1906) [2] [3]
This species has been seen on the wing from March to November. [4]
The white-dotted cattleheart may be encountered in pine-oak forests. [4]
The larva is ringed with black and white bands and has yellow and reddish-brown fleshy projections. Each side of the body contains red, orange and white spots. The chrysalis is shaped very similar to that of the pipevine swallowtail ( Battus philenor ). It is blue green with the head, parts of the thorax, and abdomen a bright yellow green. It is unknown whether the chrysalis has a brown form or not. [5]
The only recorded host plant for the white-dotted cattleheart is Watson's pipevine ( Aristolochia watsonii ). [1]
It is uncommon and known from very few localities, but is not known to be threatened. [6] Parides alopius is a member of the ascanius species group [7] ("Fringe-spots white. Hindwing with submarginal spots and usnally also discal spots or dots, or a discal band; mostly with tail"). A quadrate whitish spot in space 2 of the forewings is quite peculiar of the ascanius group [8]
The members are
The specific name comes from the classical tradition. Alopius was the son of Antiope the daughter of Thespius.
