Bhutanitis
Encyclopedia
Bhutanitis is a genus
of swallowtail
butterflies with four species. Two other taxa named as species of Bhutanitis (B. nigrilima Chou, 1992, B. yulongensis Chou, 1992) have since been synonymised with B. thaidina (Hauser et al. 2005). Another taxon, originally named as B. mansfieldi pulchristriata Saigusa and Lee, 1982, was also regarded as a separate species by Chou (1994) and Chou (2000), but has otherwise been regarded as a subspecies (Hauser et al., 2005).
The genus reaches its peak diversity in south-western China, particularly Yunnan and Sechuan (Chou, 2000), and adjacent Bhutan. Bhutanitis lidderdali is the most widespread species, occurring in China, Bhutan, India and Myanmmar (Chou, 2000); it is however locally extinct in Thailand due to habitat destruction. Larval host plants known to date are all Aristolochiaceae.
All Bhutanitis species are listed on CITES Appendix II, which restrictes their international trade. Historically, they have been highly desired by butterfly collectors; three species in particular (B. mansfieldi, B. ludlowi and B. thaidina) were known from very few specimens until comparatively recently. However, large numbers of specimens of B. thaidina and B. mansfieldi pulchristriata have recently been available at very low prices, mainly from China, which indicates collector demand may be becoming satisfied.
Genus
In biology, a genus is a low-level taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms, which is an example of definition by genus and differentia...
of swallowtail
Swallowtail butterfly
Swallowtail butterflies are large, colorful butterflies that form the family Papilionidae. There are over 550 species, and though the majority are tropical, members of the family are found on all continents except Antarctica...
butterflies with four species. Two other taxa named as species of Bhutanitis (B. nigrilima Chou, 1992, B. yulongensis Chou, 1992) have since been synonymised with B. thaidina (Hauser et al. 2005). Another taxon, originally named as B. mansfieldi pulchristriata Saigusa and Lee, 1982, was also regarded as a separate species by Chou (1994) and Chou (2000), but has otherwise been regarded as a subspecies (Hauser et al., 2005).
The genus reaches its peak diversity in south-western China, particularly Yunnan and Sechuan (Chou, 2000), and adjacent Bhutan. Bhutanitis lidderdali is the most widespread species, occurring in China, Bhutan, India and Myanmmar (Chou, 2000); it is however locally extinct in Thailand due to habitat destruction. Larval host plants known to date are all Aristolochiaceae.
All Bhutanitis species are listed on CITES Appendix II, which restrictes their international trade. Historically, they have been highly desired by butterfly collectors; three species in particular (B. mansfieldi, B. ludlowi and B. thaidina) were known from very few specimens until comparatively recently. However, large numbers of specimens of B. thaidina and B. mansfieldi pulchristriata have recently been available at very low prices, mainly from China, which indicates collector demand may be becoming satisfied.
Species of Bhutanitis
- Bhutanitis lidderdaliiBhutanitis lidderdaliiThe Bhutan Glory, Bhutanitis lidderdalii, is a species of swallowtail butterfly , which is found in Bhutan, parts of northeastern India and of Southeast Asia. A spectacular insect much sought after by collectors, the species epithet is after Dr R. Lidderdale, from whose collection the butterfly was...
, Bhutan Glory - Bhutanitis thaidinaBhutanitis thaidinaBhutanitis thaidina the Chinese Three-tailed Swallowtail is a rare species of swallowtail.The butterfly is found in Tibet and China. The larva feeds on Aristolochia Aristolochia moupinensis.-References:...
, Chinese Three Tailed Swallowtail - Bhutanitis mansfieldi, Mansfield's Three-tailed Swallowtail
- Bhutanitis ludlowi, Ludlow's Bhutan Swallowtail
External links
- TOL Overview, taxonomic discussion, photographs.