Crimson Rose

Crimson Rose

Pachliopta hector ( Linnaeus) PAPILIONIDAE

(= Tros hector ( Linnaeus))

Adult

Upperside bluish balck. FW with interrupted and irregular discal and apical white bands. HW with discal band nearly round and marginal rows of bright crimson crescent spots. The bands and spots broader in female. Underside FW dull brownish black and HW black. Markings as above but the crimson spots and crescent spots larger in HW. Wingspan 90-120mm.

Extremely common red-bodied swallowtail butterfly in south India, mainly south of the Godavari river and also along the east coast of orissa, south bihar, west Bengal and the Andamans. A strong and regular migrant and congregation of this butterfly in thousands roosting together in plantation and forest patches during winter is often reported from south India. The romulus form of the Common Mormon, Papilio polytes mimics this butterfly. Avian predators are repelled by the characteristic red body and rows of bright crimson markings on the HW.

Larva

Robust, purplish black or blackish brown with a black head and orange osmeterium. Body swollen anteriorly with orange-red tubercles, dorsal spots and transverse band on segments 6-8. feeds on Indian Birthwort.

Distribution

India, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Myanmar.