Ruby-spotted Swallowtail - Hodges#4183
Papilio anchisiades
This record describes Papilio anchisiades (species). Recorded family: Papilionidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Papilionoidea
- Family
- Papilionidae (Swallowtails, Parnassians)
- Subfamily
- Papilioninae
- Tribe
- Papilionini
- Genus
- Papilio
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
TX (as a stray) to Venezuela - Map (MPG, BOA)
Seasonal Activity
most so. TX records from Sept-Nov
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Rutaceae (BAMONA)
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: Papilio anchisiades Esper, 1788
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Papilio anchisiades. Species-specific details appear above.
Group overview
Lepidoptera includes approximately 180,000 described species of butterflies and moths. Moths outnumber butterflies roughly 10:1. The monarch butterfly's eastern population has declined by more than 80% since the mid-1990s, and the western population by over 95% since the 1980s. The IUCN lists the migratory monarch as Vulnerable.
Ecological role of the group
Butterflies and moths are essential indicators of ecosystem health. As caterpillars, they are a primary food source for birds - a single nest of blue tit chicks requires ~10,000 caterpillars. Adult moths pollinate many night-blooming plants.
Economic and practical significance of the group
Lepidoptera are critical pollinators. In Europe, grassland butterfly species have declined by almost 50% since the early 1990s. In the UK, three-quarters of butterflies are in decline. In the U.S., five butterfly species have gone extinct since 1950, with 29 listed as endangered.
Recorded sources for this group: IUCN Red List, Xerces Society, USFWS, PNAS, WWF. Imported estimates may describe particular regions or reporting periods.
Photos of Ruby-spotted Swallowtail - Hodges#4183 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Will Cook; Additional contributions by Mike Quinn
Frequently Asked Questions About Ruby-spotted Swallowtail - Hodges#4183
How big is Ruby-spotted Swallowtail - Hodges#4183?
Wing Span: 7-10 cm (BAMONA)
Where is Ruby-spotted Swallowtail - Hodges#4183 found?
Range: TX (as a stray) to Venezuela - Map (MPG, BOA)
What does Ruby-spotted Swallowtail - Hodges#4183 eat?
The diet of the Ruby-spotted Swallowtail - Hodges#4183 includes Rutaceae (BAMONA).
When is Ruby-spotted Swallowtail - Hodges#4183 active?
Ruby-spotted Swallowtail - Hodges#4183: seasonal activity - most so. TX records from Sept-Nov.