''Papilio alexanor'', the Alexanor or southern swallowtail, is a

butterfly Butterflies are winged insects from the lepidopteran superfamily Papilionoidea, characterized by large, often brightly coloured wings that often fold together when at rest, and a conspicuous, fluttering flight. The oldest butterfly fossi ...

species in the

Papilionidae Swallowtail butterflies are large, colorful Butterfly, butterflies in the family Papilionidae, and include over 550 species. Though the majority are tropical, members of the family inhabit every continent except Antarctica. The family includ ...

or swallowtails. The insect has a wingspan of 62–70 mm. It flies from April to July in a single generation, in mountainous regions (1700 m) of Europe,

Asia Minor Anatolia (), also known as Asia Minor, is a peninsula in West Asia that makes up the majority of the land area of Turkey. It is the westernmost protrusion of Asia and is geographically bounded by the Mediterranean Sea to the south, the Aegean ...

, the

Balkans The Balkans ( , ), corresponding partially with the Balkan Peninsula, is a geographical area in southeastern Europe with various geographical and historical definitions. The region takes its name from the Balkan Mountains that stretch throug ...

, and Asia (

Anatolia Anatolia (), also known as Asia Minor, is a peninsula in West Asia that makes up the majority of the land area of Turkey. It is the westernmost protrusion of Asia and is geographically bounded by the Mediterranean Sea to the south, the Aegean ...

Iran Iran, officially the Islamic Republic of Iran (IRI) and also known as Persia, is a country in West Asia. It borders Iraq to the west, Turkey, Azerbaijan, and Armenia to the northwest, the Caspian Sea to the north, Turkmenistan to the nort ...

Afghanistan Afghanistan, officially the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, is a landlocked country located at the crossroads of Central Asia and South Asia. It is bordered by Pakistan to the Durand Line, east and south, Iran to the Afghanistan–Iran borde ...

Pakistan Pakistan, officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, is a country in South Asia. It is the List of countries and dependencies by population, fifth-most populous country, with a population of over 241.5 million, having the Islam by country# ...

to west

Tian-Shan The Tian Shan, also known as the Tengri Tagh or Tengir-Too, meaning the "Mountains of God/Heaven", is a large system of mountain ranges in Central Asia. The highest peak is Jengish Chokusu at high and located in Kyrgyzstan. Its lowest point is ...

). File:Papilio alexanor MHNT CUT 2013 3 10 Cucuron Male Dorsal.jpg, Dorsal view File:Papilio alexanor MHNT CUT 2013 3 10 Cucuron Male Ventral.jpg, Ventral view

Description

''Papilio alexanor'' is similar to ''

Papilio machaon ''Papilio machaon'', the Old World swallowtail, is a butterfly of the family Papilionidae. The butterfly is also known as the common yellow swallowtail or simply the swallowtail (a common name applied to all members of the family, but this speci ...

'', however, the basal third of the forewing is not entirely black, but bordered basally and distally by a broad black band. The bands are continued across the hindwing, bordering also here the yellow basal area. The larva is similar to that of ''P. machaon'' but more variegated, the red dots larger and brighter; it is easy to find, since the stalks of the plants on which it feeds become white, the epidermis being gnawed. Pupa are stone grey, very flat, with

carinate Carinate is a shape in pottery, glassware and artistic design usually applied to amphorae or vases. The shape is defined by the joining of a rounded base to the sides of an inward sloping vessel. This design is seen in ancient cultures such as ...

sides and uneven surface; fastened on stones and resembling a small stone splinter.

Subspecies

*''Papilio alexanor destelensis'' (Nel & Chauliac, 1983) Southern France *''Papilio alexanor hazarajatica'' (Wyatt, 1961) Kopet-Dagh south Ghissar *''Papilio alexanor judeus'' (Staudinger, 1893) Asia Minor, Palestine, Transcaucasia - Has broader black bands, especially in the basal area. *''Papilio alexanor orientalis'' (Romanov, 1884) Armenia - Larger than the European form and has on the whole narrower black bands, only the submarginal band of the hindwing being broadly blue. *''Papilio alexanor radighierii'' (Sala & Bollino, 1991) Piedmont, Italy *''Papilio alexanor voldemar'' (Kreuzberg, 1989) west Tian-Shan

Biology

The larva feeds on

Umbelliferae Apiaceae () or Umbelliferae is a family of mostly aromatic flowering plants named after the type genus '' Apium,'' and commonly known as the celery, carrot, or parsley family, or simply as umbellifers. It is the 16th-largest family of flowering ...

, notably '' Trinia vulgaris'', '' Seseli montanum'', ''

Ptychotis saxifraga ''Ptychotis'' is a genus of flowering plants belonging to the family Apiaceae. Its native range is Southwestern and Southern Central Europe. Species: *''Ptychotis sardoa ''Ptychotis'' is a genus of flowering plants belonging to the family A ...

'', ''

Opopanax chironium ''Opopanax chironium'', common name Hercules' all-heal, is a herb of the family Apiaceae. Description ''Opopanax chironium'' grows high. This perennial herb has a branching stem, thick and rough close to the base. Leaves are serrate, pinnate, w ...

'', and a number of

Ferula ''Ferula'' (from Latin ''ferula'' ) is a genus of about 220 species of flowering plants in the family Apiaceae, native to the Mediterranean region east to central Asia, mostly growing in arid climates. Many plants of this genus, especially '' F ...

species.Butterfly Conservation Armenia. http://www.butterfly-conservation-armenia.org/papilio-alexanor.html

Protection

It is a protected species.

References

External links

AdaMerOs - Butterflies of Turkey
Insects of Pakistan

alexanor In Greek mythology, Alexanor (Ancient Greek: Ἀλεξάνωρ) a son of Machaon, and grandson of the Greek god Asclepius Asclepius (; ''Asklēpiós'' ; ) is a hero and god of medicine in ancient Religion in ancient Greece, Greek religio ...

Butterflies of Europe Butterflies of Asia Butterflies described in 1799 Balochistan Taxa named by Eugenius Johann Christoph Esper {{Papilionidae-stub