Papilioninae is a

subfamily In biological classification, a subfamily (Latin: ', plural ') is an auxiliary (intermediate) taxonomic rank, next below family but more inclusive than genus. Standard nomenclature rules end botanical subfamily names with "-oideae", and zo ...

of the

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 ...

family Family (from ) is a Social group, group of people related either by consanguinity (by recognized birth) or Affinity (law), affinity (by marriage or other relationship). It forms the basis for social order. Ideally, families offer predictabili ...

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 ...

. Papilioninae are swallowtail butterflies and are found worldwide, but most species are distributed in the tropics and warmer regions. This subfamily was classified in 1895 by Rothschild and Jordan.

Tribes

This subfamily consists of four tribes: *

Leptocircini Leptocircini is a tribe of swallowtail butterflies that includes the genera '' Eurytides'' (kite swallowtails), '' Graphium'' (swordtails), and ''Lamproptera'' (dragontails). Taxonomy The tribe consists of roughly 140 species in nine genera wor ...

* Papilionini *

Troidini Troidini is a tribe of swallowtail butterflies that consists of some 135 species in 12 genera. Members of this tribe are superlatively large among butterflies (in terms of both wingspan and surface area) and are often strikingly coloured. Gener ...

* Teinopalpini

Morphological characteristics

The shared morphological characteristics differentiating the papilioninae subfamily from others include * Scaling and Structure of antennae and legs * Structure of palpi * Wing venation, pattern, and pigmentation ** Dorsal bristles on males hind wing ** Basal Spur on front wing * Larvae foodplant association * Geographical Association Note that scaling, antennae structure, leg structure, and palpi structure are based mainly on specific genes that are specific to papilioninae (more information can be found in references).

Food and habitat

Specific species food preferences change and expand based on availability and species ranges. Papilioninae can survive in majority of habitat types, including tropics, alpine, and even subarctic. Larvae hatch and remain on a host plant, called a food-plant, until their adult stage. Papilioninae feed on many host plants families that are within their range. There is a very broad range of host plant preferences, which may be the reason this subfamily has been very evolutionarily successful. More specialized feeding and plant preferences occur within species in more tropical regions with more plant diversity and availability.

Geographical ranges

Species richness is greatest in more tropical regions. Food plant preferences and availability, as well as competition also impact the areas species inhabit. However, species within this subfamily exist between the latitudes 70 and -40. Richness is highest between the latitudes 10 and -20 with a drop in richness along the -10 degree latitude. Presence differs depending on food availability and food plant availability for larvae.

External links

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References

Papilionidae Butterfly subfamilies Taxa named by Pierre André Latreille Taxa described in 1802 {{Papilionidae-stub