Parides alopius, the white-dotted cattleheart, is an endemic Mexican butterfly in the family Papilionidae. It has also strayed once into the United States in southeastern Arizona.[1]
| White-dotted cattleheart | |
|---|---|
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Scientific classification 
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| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Lepidoptera |
| Family: | Papilionidae |
| Genus: | Parides |
| Species: | P. alopius
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| Binomial name | |
| Parides alopius | |
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Description edit
The upperside of the wings is black with the hindwing having two rows of submarginal spots: the first row, white; and the second row, pink. Males have fewer white spots than females. The underside of the wings are similar except the hindwing pink spots are more conspicuous.[1] It has a wingspan of 3–3.5 in (76–89 mm).A full description is provided by Rothschild, W. and Jordan, K. (1906)[2]
Flight edit
This species has been seen on the wing from March to November.[3]
Habitat edit
The white-dotted cattleheart may be encountered in pine-oak forests.[3]
Life cycle edit
The larva is ringed with black and white bands and has yellow and reddish-brown fleshy projections. Each side of the body contains red, orange and white spots. The chrysalis is shaped very similar to that of the pipevine swallowtail (Battus philenor). It is blue green with the head, parts of the thorax, and abdomen a bright yellow green. It is unknown whether the chrysalis has a brown form or not.[4]
Host plants edit
The only recorded host plant for the white-dotted cattleheart is Watson's pipevine (Aristolochia watsonii).[1]
Status edit
It is uncommon and known from very few localities, but is not known to be threatened.[5]
Etymology edit
The specific name comes from the classical tradition. Alopius was the son of Antiope the daughter of Thespius.
References edit
- ^ a b c Jim P. Brock and Kenn Kaufman (2003). Butterflies of North America. Houghton Mifflin, New York, NY. ISBN 0-618-15312-8
- ^ Rothschild, W. and Jordan, K. (1906). A revision of the American Papilios. Novitates Zoologicae 13: 411-752. (Facsimile edition ed. P.H. Arnaud, 1967) and online
- ^ a b "White-dotted Cattleheart" Archived 2009-04-30 at the Wayback Machine, Butterflies and Moths of North America
- ^ "Parides alopius"[permanent dead link], Mariposa Mexicanas
- ^ Tyler, H.A. (1975). The Swallowtail Butterflies of North America. Naturegraph Publishers, viii + 192 pp.
External links edit
- Parides alopius, Butterflies of America