| Varnished Apollo | |
|---|---|
 | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Lepidoptera |
| Family: | Papilionidae |
| Genus: | Parnassius |
| Species: | P. acco |
| Binomial name | |
| Parnassius acco Gray, 1853 | |
Parnassius acco, the varnished Apollo, is a high-altitude butterfly found in Asia. It is a member of the snow Apollo genus Parnassius of the swallowtail family, Papilionidae.
Note. The wing pattern in Parnassius species is inconsistent and the very many subspecies and forms make identification problematic and uncertain. Structural characters derived from the genitalia, wing venation, sphragis and foretibial epiphysis are more, but not entirely reliable. The description given here is a guide only. For an identification key see Ackery P.R. (1975). [1]
Upperside: dull greyish white. Forewing: costal margin and base with an irroration (sprinkling) of black scales, the white scaling clearest and most dense in the cell, this last crossed by a medial and an apical short, broad, transverse jet-black band; beyond apex of cell an irregularly sinuous dusky-black discal band that, usually extends from costa to vein 3, but in some specimens right up to the dorsal margin, in most it bears an anterior crimson spot; this is followed by less irregular and, in most specimens, slightly broader postdiscal and terminal similar transverse bands and a pre-ciliary slender continuous line on termen and dorsum. Hindwing: dorsal half of the wing dusky black, the outer or upper margin of this colour, irregularly indented; a discal, a subcostal and a basal black-encircled spot that varies in colour from crimson to pinkish yellow, followed by a subterminal series of black lunular spots and a narrow terminal band, crossed and interrupted by the white veining. Cilia of both wings conspicuously white. Underside with a glassy appearance. Forewing nearly as on the upperside, but the black markings, except the two bars across the cell, only seen through by transparency from the upperside. Hindwing: ground colour white, the discal, costal, and basal pink or crimson spots also apparently transparency only from the upperside; a discal double ill-defined series of black lunular markings, followed by a subterminal series of similar markings like those on the upperside, but of a duller black and less clearly defined. Antennae dull brownish black, with a more or less copious covering of scattered white scales; abdomen black, clothed with somewhat sparse, long, fine white hairs. [2]
Pakistan, Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh and further east to Sikkim, Nepal and China.
The species is considered very rare and inadequately known. More information is needed from the Indian highlands and Tibet. The subspecies P. a. geminifer is protected by law in India. [3]
Papilio alcmenor, the redbreast, is a species of swallowtail butterfly found in South Asia.
Papilio castor, the common raven, is a species of swallowtail butterfly found in Cambodia and South Asia.
Teinopalpus imperialis, the Kaisar-i-Hind, is a rare species of swallowtail butterfly found from Nepal and north east India to north Vietnam. The common name literally means "emperor of India". The Kaisar-i-Hind is much sought after by butterfly collectors for its beauty and rarity. The green iridescence of the wings has been found to be due to three-dimensional photonic structure of the scales and is the subject of much research.
Meandrusa sciron, the brown gorgon, is a species of swallowtail butterfly found in parts of South Asia and Southeast Asia. It belongs to the hooked swallowtails genus, Meandrusa, of the family Papilionidae. The brown gorgon is found in India from Sikkim to Assam and north Burma and is not considered to be threatened. Though not uncommon, it is protected under Indian law under the name gyas.
Meandrusa payeni, the yellow gorgon, is a species of swallowtail found in parts of South Asia and Southeast Asia. It belongs to the hooked swallowtails genus, Meandrusa, of the family Papilionidae. It is also called the outlet sword or the sickle.
Losaria coon, the common clubtail, is a butterfly belonging to the swallowtail family, Papilionidae. The butterfly belongs to the clubtails, genus Losaria. It includes several subspecies and is found from the Nicobar Islands and Assam in India, east to Hainan in China, and south through Indochina, to Java and other islands of Indonesia and Bangladesh.
Papilio (Chilasa) epycides, the lesser mime, is a swallowtail butterfly found in India and parts of South-East Asia. The butterfly belongs to the mime (Chilasa) subgenus or the black-bodied swallowtails. It is a mimic of a common Indian Danainae, the glassy tiger butterfly.
Graphium eurypylus, the great jay or pale green triangle, is a species of tropical butterfly belonging to the family Papilionidae.
Byasa latreillei, the rose windmill, is a butterfly from the windmills genus (Byasa), found in various parts of Asia, comprising tailed black swallowtail butterflies with white spots and red submarginal crescents.
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 charltonius, the regal Apollo, is a high-altitude butterfly which is found in India. It is a member of the snow Apollo genus (Parnassius) of the swallowtail family (Papilionidae). This handsome butterfly is found at altitudes from 9,000 to 13,000 feet from Chitral to Kumaon.
Parnassius hannyngtoni, the Hannyngton's Apollo, is a high-altitude butterfly which is found in India. It is a member of the snow Apollo genus (Parnassius) of the swallowtail family (Papilionidae). Some sources also spell the name as P. hunnygtoni. It is named after Frank Hannyngton who obtained the specimen from the Chumbi Valley.
Parnassius simo, the black-edged Apollo, is a high-altitude butterfly found in the Himalayas which belongs to the Papilionidae (swallowtail) family.
Parnassius hardwickii, the common blue Apollo, is a high-altitude butterfly which is found in South Asia. It is a member of the snow Apollo genus (Parnassius) of the swallowtail family (Papilionidae). This butterfly is found from the Chitral District to Sikkim and is found from 6,000 to 17,000 feet, making it one of the most commonly encountered species of Apollo in the Indian subcontinent.
Parnassius jacquemontii, the keeled Apollo, is a high altitude butterfly which is found in India and Pakistan. It is a member of the snow Apollo genus (Parnassius) of the swallowtail family (Papilionidae). It is also fairly common at high altitudes from Chitral to Kumaon.
Parnassius epaphus, the common red Apollo, is a high altitude butterfly which is found in India and Nepal. It is a member of the snow Apollo genus (Parnassius) of the swallowtail family (Papilionidae). It is found from 9,000 to 13,000 feet from Chitral District to Sikkim and western regions of Nepal. It is not considered rare.
Parnassius actius, also known as the scarce red apollo, is a high-altitude butterfly found in Central Asia. It is a member of the snow Apollo genus (Parnassius) of the swallowtail family (Papilionidae).
Parnassius staudingeri hunza, the Karakoram banded Apollo, is a high-altitude butterfly which is found in India. It is a member of the genus Parnassius of the swallowtail family, Papilionidae. It was variously treated as a subspecies of P. delphius and a distinct species. The subspecies was first described by Grigory Grum-Grshimailo in 1888.
Niphanda cymbia, the pointed Pierrot, is a small butterfly found in northern India, Burma and northern Borneo that belongs to the lycaenids or blues family.
