Parides photinus

Parides photinus, the pink-spotted cattleheart, is a species of butterfly in the family Papilionidae. It was first described by Edward Doubleday in 1844.

Description

Parides photinus has a wingspan reaching. Adults are black with the hindwing having a blue-green metallic sheen, especially in the male. There are no wing bands. Two rows of red spots are found along the hindwing margin. The submarginal spots are strongly arched except for the upper two or three and the anal one; the latter is distinct on the upperside only in the female. The hindwings have short tails. The undersides are similar to the upsides. The larvae feed on Aristolochia grandiflora and A. asclepiadifolia.
A full description is provided by Rothschild, W. and Jordan, K.

Distribution and habitat

This species can be found from Mexico to Costa Rica, in Nicaragua and in Honduras. It lives in forests, where it is common to abundant. Its range extends from the sea level to 5000 feet.

Taxonomy

Parides photinus is a member of the ascanius species group
.A quadrate whitish spot in space 2 of the forewings is quite peculiar of the ascanius group
The members are: