Description:
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The common rose (Pachliopta aristolochiae) is a swallowtail butterfly belonging to the Pachliopta genus, the roses, or red-bodied swallowtails. It is a common butterfly which is extensively distributed across South and Southeast Asia.
The forewings are black, but in large part whitish with black veins. The underside is a copy of upside. The hind wings are black and have tails. The margin is ridged. At the margin there is a chain of dark-red spots. In the middle of wing there is a white area, which is divided by black veins. The underside is a copy of upside, but red spots are brighter than upside. The body is black, but the opisthosoma is reddish. |
Sex differences:
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The male is smaller than female and has no white on wings. Furthermore it has no red spots on upside of hind wings.
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Scientific Name:
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Pachliopta aristolochiae
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Common Name:
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Common Rose
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Order:
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Lepidoptera
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Family:
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Papilionidae
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Sub Family:
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Papilioninae
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Wing Span:
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65-85 mm
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Status:
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Very common
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Range:
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It is widely distributed in Asia. Afghanistan, Pakistan, India (including the Andaman islands), Nepal, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Thailand, Japan (south-western Okinawa only), Laos, Vietnam, Kampuchea(now Cambodia), Nicobar islands, peninsular and eastern Malaysia, Brunei, Philippines (Palawan and Leyte), Indonesia, and Taiwan.
In China, it is distributed in southern and eastern China (including Hainan, Guangdong province), and Hong Kong. In Indonesia, it is distributed in Sumatra, Nias, Enggano, Bangka, Java, Bali, Kangean, Lombok, Sumbawa, Sumba, Flores, Tanahjampea, and Kalimantan.
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Andhra Pradesh:
Arunachal Pradesh:
Karnataka:
Kerala:
Maharashtra:
Meghalaya:
West Bengal:
Telangana:
All states:
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May, Jul
May
Jun, Aug, Sep
Oct, Nov
Jan, Aug, Oct, Nov, Dec
Apr, May
Apr, May
Apr
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Habitat:
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An excellent generalist which has adapted to a range of habitats, the butterfly has been found in congregations at lower elevations. The common rose is found up to 8000 feet in the Western Ghats and South Indian Hills, up to 5000 feet at the eastern end of the Himalayas but only up to 3000 feet in the northwest Himalayas. The butterfly is a common visitor to Indian gardens and can even be found in crowded urban areas.
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Habit:
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It is the commonest of the large tailed butterflies of India.
The red body, slow peculiar flight, bright colouration and pattern of the wings are meant to indicate to predators that this butterfly is inedible, being well protected by the poisons it has sequestered from its larval food plant. It also emits a nasty smelling substance when handled to further enhance its unappealing qualities. Hence it is rarely attacked by predators, a strategy so successful, that edible butterflies have evolved to mimic it, the classic example being that of the female morph of the common Mormon that is Papilio polytes, female form stichius. The common rose frequently visits flowers such as Lantana, Cosmos, Zinnia, Jatropha and Clerodendron. The butterfly occasionally also visits wet patches. In parts of Sri Lanka, the males are known to congregate and form a beautiful sight while mud-puddling. |
Larval Host Plants:
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Aristolochia indica, Aristolochia tagala, Aristolochia littoralis, Thottea siliquosa, Aristo littoralis, Thottea sivarajanii
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Nectar Plants:
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Lantana, Cosmos, Zinnia, Jatropha and Clerodendron
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Source & More Details:
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| Pachliopta aristolochiae - Common Rose |
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| Pachliopta aristolochiae - Common Rose |
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