Swallowtail butterflies are large, colorful butterflies in the family Papilionidae, and include over 550 species. Though the majority are tropical, members of the family inhabit every continent except Antarctica. The family includes the largest butterflies in the world, the birdwing butterflies of the genus Ornithoptera.
The osmeterium is a defensive organ found in all papilionid larvae, in all stages. The organ is situated in the prothoracic segment and can be everted when the larva feels threatened. The everted organ resembles a fleshy forked tongue, and this along with the large eye-like spots on the body might be used to startle birds and small reptiles. The osmeterial organ remains inside the body in the thoracic region in an inverted position and is everted when the larva is disturbed in any way emitting a foul, disagreeable odor which serves to repel ants, small spiders and mantids. To humans, this odour is rather strong but pleasant, usually smelling like a concentrated scent of the caterpillar’s food plant and pineapple.
The clouded Apollo is a butterfly species of the family of swallowtail butterflies (Papilionidae) found in the Palearctic realm.
The Parnassiinae or snow Apollos are a subfamily of the swallowtail butterfly family, Papilionidae. The subfamily includes about 50 medium-sized, white or yellow species. The snow Apollos are high-altitude butterflies and are distributed across Asia, Europe and North America.
Parnassius stoliczkanus, the Ladakh banded Apollo, is a rare high-altitude butterfly which is found in Central Asia. It is a member of the snow Apollo genus (Parnassius) of the swallowtail family. It is named after the naturalist and explorer Ferdinand Stoliczka.
Parnassius delphius, the banded Apollo, is a high-altitude butterfly which is found in Central Asia. It is a member of the genus Parnassius of the swallowtail family, Papilionidae.
Parnassius glacialis, the glacial Apollo or Japanese clouded Apollo, is a high-altitude butterfly found in Japan, eastern China, and Korea. It is a member of the snow Apollo genus (Parnassius) of the swallowtail family (Papilionidae).
Zerynthia is a genus of swallowtail butterflies placed in the subfamily Parnassiinae. The genus has a complex history; a multiplicity of names have been applied to its species.
Parnassius ariadne is a high altitude butterfly which is found in Central Asia. It is a member of the snow Apollo genus (Parnassius) of the swallowtail family (Papilionidae).
Parnassius eversmanni, or Eversmann's parnassian, is a high-altitude butterfly which is found in eastern Russia, Mongolia, Japan, Alaska, and the Yukon. It is a member of the snow Apollo genus (Parnassius) of the swallowtail family, Papilionidae. The species was named to honour Eduard Friedrich Eversmann.
Parnassius stubbendorfi is a high-altitude butterfly found in Russia, Altai Mountains across central, south, and far east Siberia, Sakhalin and the Kuril Islands and from Mongolia across north China to west Korea and Japan (Hokkaido). It is a member of the snow Apollo genus (Parnassius) of the swallowtail family (Papilionidae).
Parnassius tenedius, the tenedius Apollo, is an east Palearctic member of the snow Apollo genus (Parnassius) of the swallowtail family (Papilionidae). Populations range from Siberia and the Far East of Russia to the western Chukchi Peninsula, Mongolia and north China. The larva feeds on Corydalis species. In the northern part of its range it is a low altitude butterfly; further south it is montane.
Parnassius arcticus, the Siberian Apollo, is a high-altitude butterfly which is found in Northeastern Yakutia, Russia. It is a member of the snow Apollo genus (Parnassius) of the swallowtail family, Papilionidae.
Parnassius cardinal, the cardinal Apollo, is a high-altitude butterfly which is found in north Afghanistan and Tajikistan. It is a member of the snow Apollo genus (Parnassius) of the swallowtail family (Papilionidae). The species was first described by Grigory Grum-Grshimailo in 1887.
Parnassius felderi, the Felder's Apollo, is a high-altitude butterfly which is found in Amur, Ussuri and China, North Korea and Japan. It is a member of the snow Apollo genus (Parnassius) of the swallowtail family, (Papilionidae).
Parnassius jacobsoni is a high-altitude butterfly which is found only in Tajikistan and Afghanistan. It is a member of the snow Apollo genus (Parnassius) of the swallowtail family (Papilionidae).
The Parnassiini are a tribe of swallowtail butterflies.
