Kingdom Animalia Class Insecta Family Papilionidae Scientific name Parnassius boëdromius | Phylum Arthropoda Order Lepidoptera Genus Parnassius Rank Species | |
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Similar Parnassius simonius, Parnassius cardinal, Parnassius patricius, Parnassius honrathi, Parnassius tenedius | ||
Parnassius boedromius is a high-altitude butterfly which is found in Asia. It has a restricted range, known only along the borders of Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan and Xinjiang, China. Formerly a subspecies of Parnassius simo. It is a member of the snow Apollo genus (Parnassius) of the swallowtail family (Papilionidae).
Description
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).
Parnassius boedromius is distinguished by a reduction of the markings. On the forewing the discal band almost entirely absent, no red spots either above or below, ocelli vestigial.