Bhutanitis lidderdalii

Taxobox | name = Bhutan Glory

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image_width = 240px
regnum = Animalia
phylum = Arthropoda
classis = Insecta
ordo = Lepidoptera
familia = Papilionidae
genus = "Bhutanitis"
species = "B. lidderdalii"
binomial = "Bhutanitis lidderdalii"
binomial_authority = Atkinson, 1873
synonyms = "Armandia lidderdali"The Bhutan Glory, "Bhutanitis lidderdalii", is a species of butterfly found in Bhutan, parts of northeastern India and parts of Southeast Asia. It belongs to the "Bhutanitis" genus , spectacular and much sought after members of the Swallowtail (Papilionidae) family. It is not rare.

Description

:"See glossary for terms used"Males and females have the upperside of wings dull black. Forewing with the following ochraceous white slender markings: basal, sub-basal, medial and preapical lines from costa across cell, the first three continued in a series of more or less diffuse curves to the dorsal margin, the preapical terminates on vein 3; beyond apex of cell a somewhat broken transverse line from costa to vein 3 followed by a complete discal transverse line, a short upper postdiscal somewhat ill-defined line that terminates on vein 4 and a subterminal complete line; all the lines except those that cross the cell formed of a series of short curved lines in the interspaces. Hind wing with similar ochraceous white lines more or less in continuation of those on the forewing with the addition of a broad line along vein 1 and the median vein, these two lines do not reach much beyond the base of vein 4; a large lower discal patch, the inward half scarlet, the outer half velvety-black, followed by broad subterminal bright yellow lunules in interspaces 1 to 4; the tails edged very narrowly with ochraceous white; the black on the outer half of the discal patch has in interspaces 1 and 2 very large ill-defined superposed white spots thickly shaded with brownish grey except along their inner margins. Underside similar, all the markings broader, base of cell in hindwing crossed by a short ochraceous-white bar, and the edges of the pre-costal cell with narrow lines of the same colour. Antennae black; head, thorax and abdomen dull black; the thorax greenish grey laterally, the sides of the abdomen with cross-lines of ochreous white.Bingham, C. T (1907) Fauna of British India. Butteflies Volume 2.]

Wing expanse: 115-116 mm

Distribution

Bhutan, Assam, the Naga Hills, Upper Burma, the Chin Hills.

Distribution

The butterfly is found in Bhutan and Northern India (Assam, Sikkim, Manipur and Nagaland). It is also found in Northern Myanmar, Vietnam, Thailand and Szechwan and Yunnan provinces of China.

tatus

The Bhutan Glory is widely distributed and hence unlikely to be in danger at the moment. However, it is extensively collected for trade in Thailand. Deforestation is a major threat to the butterfly. More information is needed on the species. The nominate subspecies is protected under law in India.

Habitat

Flies from 5000 to 9000 feet in its Indian range. Generally keeps to the ridges rather than the valleys.

Habits

Flies at tree-top, with a slow, drifting, unpredictable flight akin to that of Tree Nymph "Hestia lynceus". The butterflies transparent grayish underside makes it difficult to distinguish in the shadows. During rain, it sits on leaves with the forewings drooped over the hindwings, concealing its bright upper colouration. The butterfly has a habit of hill-topping and visits flowers of diverse species.

Lifecycle

Known to have two broods - the first in May-Jun and the second from Aug to Oct. Likely to be unpalatable due to its foodplant being "Aristolochia" spp. The body and wings are recorded to have a pleasant odour.

Foodplant

Larva on "Aristolochia spp.", "A. kaempferii", "A. mandshuriensis" and "A. griffithii". [ [http://www.nic.funet.fi/pub/sci/bio/life/insecta/lepidoptera/ditrysia/papilionoidea/papilionidae/parnassiinae/bhutanitis/index.html#lidderdalii "Bhutanitis lidderdalii" - http://www.nic.funet.fi/ ] ]

Cited references

Other references

* Collins, N.M. & Morris, M.G. (1985) Threatened Swallowtail Butterflies of the World. IUCN. ISBN 2-88032-603-6
* Evans, W.H. (1932) The Identification of Indian Butterflies. (2nd Ed), Bombay Natural History Society, Mumbai, India
* Gay,Thomas; Kehimkar,Isaac & Punetha,J.C.(1992) Common Butterflies of India. WWF-India and Oxford University Press, Mumbai, India.
* Haribal, Meena (1994) Butterflies of Sikkim Himalaya and their Natural History.
* Wynter-Blyth, M.A. (1957) Butterflies of the Indian Region, Bombay Natural History Society, Mumbai, India.

ee also

*Papilionidae
*List of Butterflies of India
*List of Butterflies of India (Papilionidae)

External links

* [http://www.tolweb.org/Bhutanitis_lidderdalii/65412 TOL]