Western Giant Swallowtail - Hodges#4170.1
Papilio rumiko
This record describes Papilio rumiko (species). Recorded family: Papilionidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Side-by-side Photo Comparison and Discussion It is debated as to whether this is truly a distinct species or a regional variant of P. cresphontes . There is evidence that the two may intergrade, but more study is needed on the subject.
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
CA to c. TX, CO / Mex. to Panama - Map
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Eggs are laid singly on young leaves and shoots of the host plants from Rutaceae family: Zanthoxylum fagara , Ptelea trifoliata , Amyris texana , and Casimiroa greggii in Texas, or Ruta graveolens and Citrus spp. in both states, and likely others. For instance, ovipositions were recorded on Geijera parviflora in Tucson, Pima Co., Arizona
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: The species is named to honor the wife of the first author. Pronounced as ’roo(as in rue)-mee(as in meek)-koh(as in cod). The stress is on the first syllable.
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Papilio rumiko. 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 Western Giant Swallowtail - Hodges#4170.1 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Mike Quinn; Additional contributions by David Ferguson
Frequently Asked Questions About Western Giant Swallowtail - Hodges#4170.1
What is Western Giant Swallowtail - Hodges#4170.1?
Western Giant Swallowtail - Hodges#4170.1 (Papilio rumiko) is a species in the family Papilionidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How do you identify Western Giant Swallowtail - Hodges#4170.1?
Side-by-side Photo Comparison and Discussion
Where is Western Giant Swallowtail - Hodges#4170.1 found?
Range: CA to c. TX, CO / Mex. to Panama - Map
What does Western Giant Swallowtail - Hodges#4170.1 eat?
The diet of the Western Giant Swallowtail - Hodges#4170.1 includes Eggs are laid singly on young leaves and shoots of the host plants from Rutaceae family: Zanthoxylum fagara , Ptelea trifoliata , Amyris texana , and Casimiroa greggii in Texas, or Ruta graveolens and Citrus spp. in both states, and likely others. For instance, ovipositions were recorded on Geijera parviflora in Tucson, Pima Co., Arizona.