Parnassius acdestis
Parnassius acdestis is a high-altitude butterfly found in India. It is a member of the genus Parnassius of the swallowtail family, Papilionidae. The species was first described by Grigory Grum-Grshimailo in 1891.
Description
Note: The wing pattern in Parnassius species is inconsistent and the very many subspecies and forms make identification problematic and uncertain. Structural characters derived from the genitalia, wing venation, sphragis and foretibial epiphysis are more, but not entirely reliable. The description given here is a guide only. For an identification key see P.R. Ackery.
Hindwing with very narrow marginal band, the submarginal spots isolated, small; the ultracellular costal spot of forewing continued by grey scaling, forming an s-shaped band.
Subspecies
Parnassius acdestis cerevisiae Weiss & MichelParnassius acdestis cinerosus StichelParnassius acdestis felix EisnerParnassius acdestis hades Parnassius acdestis imperatoides Weiss & MichelParnassius acdestis irenaephis BrykParnassius acdestis ladakensis Avinoff, 1916Parnassius acdestis lathonius BrykParnassius acdestis limitis Weiss & MichelParnassius acdestis macdonardi RothschildParnassius acdestis manco KoiwayaParnassius acdestis ohkuma KoiwayaParnassius acdestis peeblesi BrykParnassius acdestis peshkei Eisner, 1933Parnassius acdestis rupshuana Avinoff, 1916Parnassius acdestis takedai Mikami & Sakakibara, 1988Parnassius acdestis vogti Parnassius acdestis yanae Huang, 1998
Range
Kirghistan, Nepal, northern India, western China, Sinkiang and Szechwan.
Status
Very local. Rather rare. Not known to be threatened.