Supriya Ghosh (Editor)

Battus (butterfly)

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Kingdom
  
Animalia

Subfamily
  
Papilioninae

Scientific name
  
Battus

Higher classification
  
Troidini

Order
  
Butterflies and moths

Family
  
Papilionidae

Tribe
  
Troidini

Phylum
  
Arthropoda

Rank
  
Genus

Battus (butterfly) httpsuploadwikimediaorgwikipediacommonsthu

Lower classifications
  
Battus philenor, Battus lycidas, Battus eracon, Battus zetides, Battus laodamas

Battus is a New World genus of butterflies that are usually found around pipevine (genus Aristolochia) 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.

Contents

Etymology

In Greek mythology, Battus is a shepherd who witnessed Hermes stealing Apollo's cattle. Because he broke his promise not to reveal this theft, Hermes turned him to stone.

Species

Listed alphabetically within groups:

subgenus: Battuosa Möhn, 1999

species group: belus Möhn, 1999
  • Battus belus (Cramer, 1777) – Belus swallowtail
  • Battus crassus (Cramer, 1777) – Crassus swallowtail
  • Battus eracon (Godman & Salvin, 1897) – west-Mexican swallowtail, Colima swallowtail
  • Battus ingenuus (Dyar, 1907) – Dyar's swallowtail, confused swallowtail
  • Battus laodamas (C. & R. Felder, 1859) – green-patch swallowtail, yellow-spotted swallowtail
  • Battus lycidas (Cramer, [1777]) – Cramer's swallowtail, yellow-trailed swallowtail
  • Battus polystictus (Butler, 1874)
    • species group: madyes Möhn, 1999
  • Battus madyes (Doubleday, 1846) – Madyes swallowtail

    • subgenus: Battus Möhn, 1999

    species group: philenor
  • Battus devilliersii (Godart, 1823)
  • Battus philenor (Linnaeus, 1771) – pipevine swallowtail
  • Battus zetides (Munroe, 1971) – Zetides swallowtail
    • species group: polydamus Möhn, 1999
  • Battus polydamas (Linnaeus, 1758) – Polydamas swallowtail, gold rim swallowtail, or tailless swallowtail

    • References

    Battus (butterfly) Wikipedia
    (Text) CC BY-SA