Battus lycidas

Battus lycidas is a species of butterfly in the family Papilionidae native to the Neotropic ecozone. It is commonly known as Cramer's swallowtail, the Lycidas swallowtail, and the yellow-trailed swallowtail.[1][2][3]

Cramer's swallowtail
Museum specimen of Battus lycidas, male
Scientific classification
Kingdom:
Animalia
Phylum:
Arthropoda
Class:
Insecta
Order:
Lepidoptera
Family:
Papilionidae
Genus:
Battus
Species:
B. lycidas
Binomial name
Battus lycidas
(Cramer, [1777])
Synonyms
  • Papilio lycidas Cramer, [1777]
  • Papilio erymanthus Cramer, [1777]

Description

The wingspan of Battus lycidas can reach 10–11 millimetres (0.39–0.43 in). Wings are basically black, with yellow markings and a greenish structure-colour. The hind wings are tailless. This species shows a sexual dimorphism, as in males hind wings have anal androconial creamy yellow patches and the abdomen is yellow cream, while in the females hind wings have faint pale yellow spots forming a discontinuous strip in the middle area. Little is known about this species, but it is not considered threatened.[2] Adults fly in May and June visiting flowers of Warscewiczia coccinea (Rubiaceae) and blooms of Vochysia guatemalensis (Vochysiaceae). The larvae of Battus lycidas feed on Aristolochia huberiana.[4] and on Aristolochia constricta.

Distribution

This species can be found from Mexico to northern Bolivia and southern Pará, Brazil.[1] It is rare in Costa Rica.[2]

Habitat

These butterflies prefer the canopy, the margins of streams and clearings, at an elevation of 0–800 metres (0–2,625 ft) above sea level.

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References
  1. Warren, A. D.; et al. (2010). "Battus lycidas". Butterflies of America. Retrieved 26 January 2011.
  2. Collins, N. Mark; Morris, Michael G. (1985). Threatened Swallowtail Butterflies of the World: The IUCN Red Data Book. Gland & Cambridge: IUCN. p. 66. ISBN 978-2-88032-603-6 – via Biodiversity Heritage Library.
  3. Glassberg, Jeffrey (2007). A Swift Guide to the Butterflies of Mexico and Central America. Sunstreak Books Inc. p. 9. ISBN 978-1-4243-0915-3.
  4. Savela, Markku. "Battus lycidas". funet.fi. Retrieved 26 January 2011.

Further reading
  • Lamas, Gerardo (2004). Atlas of Neotropical Lepidoptera; Checklist: Part4A Hesperioidea–Papilionoidea. Gainesville, Florida: Scientific Publishers, Inc. p. 90. ISBN 0-945417-28-4.
  • Edwin Möhn, 1999, Butterflies of the World 5: 7, plate 10, figures 7-8, plate 19, figures 5-6.Edwin Möhn, 2002 Schmetterlinge der Erde, Butterflies of the world Part V (5), Papilionidae II:Battus. Edited by Erich Bauer and Thomas Frankenbach Keltern : Goecke & Evers ; Canterbury : Hillside Books.ISBN 978-3-931374-70-9, Page 8, plate 8, figures 5-8, plate 18, figures 7-8
  • Paul Smart, 1976 The Illustrated Encyclopedia of the Butterfly World in Color.London, Salamander:Encyclopedie des papillons. Lausanne, Elsevier Sequoia (French language edition)ISBN 9780948427046 ISBN 0600313816 page 159 fig. 15 (Guatemala)


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