Eurytides asius is a species of butterfly in the family Papilionidae. It is found in the Neotropical realm in southeastern Brazil (Bahia, Minas Gerais, Espirito Santo, Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo, Paraná, Santa Catarina, Rio Grande do Sul), and Paraguay.

Eurytides asius
Illustration by Dru Drury
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Papilionidae
Genus: Eurytides
Species:
E. asius
Binomial name
Eurytides asius
(Fabricius, 1781)[1]
Synonyms
  • Papilio asius Fabricius, 1781
  • Papilio astyagas Drury, 1782
  • Papilio manlius Perty, [1833]
  • Papilio asius f. albofasciatus Zikán, 1937
  • Protographium asius (Fabricius, 1781)

Etymology

edit

The specific name is named in the classical tradition for Asius son of Hyrtacus who was the leader of the Trojan allies, the Equites Trojani of Carl Linnaeus.

Description

edit

Upperside: Antennae, thorax, and abdomen black. Wings raven black, having a pale yellow bar rising at the anterior edges near the tips of the superior wings, and crossing these and the inferior ones, meeting even with the abdomen, becoming wider gradually. Posterior wings furnished with two tails, and along the external edges having four small yellow crescents, and another at the abdominal corners; above which are two long square red spots, and another yellow crescent on the abdominal edges. Underside: Palpi, legs, and breast black. Abdomen black, with a white longitudinal stripe on each side. Wings marked nearly as on the upperside; the posterior having several red spots and streaks more than on the upper side, and placed next the body from the shoulders to the abdominal corners. Wingspan 3 inches (76 mm).[2]

Biology

edit
 
Forest habitat - Parque Estadual do Turvo

The larva feeds on Annona cacans.

References

edit
  1. ^ Protographium at funet
  2. ^ Drury, Dru (1837). Westwood, John (ed.). Illustrations of Exotic Entomology. Vol. 3. p. 48. pl. XXXV.

Further reading

edit
  • Edwin Möhn, 2002 Schmetterlinge der Erde, Butterflies of the world Part XIIII (14), Papilionidae VIII: Baronia, Euryades, Protographium, Neographium, Eurytides. Edited by Erich Bauer and Thomas Frankenbach Keltern: Goecke & Evers; Canterbury: Hillside Books. ISBN 978-3-931374-87-7 All species and subspecies are included, also most of the forms. Several females are shown the first time in colour.
edit