N A T U R K U N D L I C H E S   I N F O R M A T I O N S S Y S T E M

Pachliopta hector (Linné, 1758)

(zoological nomenclature: valid name, available)

General information:

Papilio hector Linné, 1758: 459.

Habit:

Description of adults: Wingspan: 88 - 120 mm (Bingham 1907).

. "Upperside black. Fore wing with a broad white interrupted band from the subcostal nervure opposite the origin of veins 10 and 11, extended obliquely to the tornus, and a second short preapical similar band; both bands composed of detached irregularly indented broad streaks in the interspaces. Hind wing with a discal posteriorly strongly curved series of seven crimson spots followed by a subterminal series of crimson lunules. Cilia black alternated with white. Underside: fore wing dull brownish black, hind wing black; markings as on the upperside, but the crimson spots and crescentic markings on the hind wing larger. Antennae, thorax and abdomen above at base, black; head and rest of the abdomen bright crimson; beneath: the palpi, the sides of the thorax and abdomen crimson.

. Similar, the discal series of spots and subterminal lunules much duller, pale crimson irrorated with black scales; in some specimens the anterior spots and lunules almost white barely tinged with crimson; abdomen above with the black colour extended further towards the apex."

Distribution:

The species has been found in Bengal: Calcutta, Ohaudernagore, Orissa, Chittagong; the southern half of peninsular India; Ceylon (Bingham 1097)

Biology:

The butterflies like to roost in company on twigs of some thorny shrub (Bingham 1907).

Stages in development:

Description of early stages following Moore, cited by Bingham (1907):

Larva. "Cylindrical, tapering slightly towards each end; rich dark purple-brown; with a subdorsal and two lateral rows of crimson fleshy cylindrical tubercles, the lowest row shortest, and an additional lateral tubercle on the third and fourth segments, a transverse row of four pinkish-white spots on the seventh and eighth segments; head and legs blackish."

Pupa. "Head truncate in front; thorax dorsally conical and laterally rounded; wing-cases posteriorly rounded and dilated; abdominal segments with four subdorsal short foliaceous protaberances; colour pale violaceous-ochraecous."

Worth knowing:

Sources:

Bingham, C. T. 1907. Fauna of British India, including Ceylon and Burma. Butterflies - Vol. II. Taylor & Francis, London, 480 pp., 20 pl.
Linnaeus, C. 1758. Systema Naturae, Ed. X. (Systema naturae per regna tria naturae, secundum classes, ordines, genera, species, cum characteribus, differentiis, synonymis, locis. Tomus I. Editio decima, reformata.) Holmiae. Systema Nat. ed. 10 i-ii + 1-824.

Publication data:

history:
Kurz Michael: 2018.07.25
not reviewed

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