Parnassius simonius


Parnassius simonius is a high-altitude butterfly which is found only in the Pamir Mountains of Central Asia. The type locality is Aram-Kunghei, Zaalaisky Mountains, Kyrgyzstan. It is a member of the snow Apollo genus of the swallowtail family, Papilionidae.
P. simonius is found on slopes at 3,400-4,500 m flying in July. The larva is associated with Lagotis decumbens and Veronica luetkeana.

Identification

P. simo differs from P. simonius by the upper hindwing having its submarginal band represented by a discontinuous row of arrow-like teeth and from P. boedromius, by the upper hindwing submarginal band being smoothly dentate.

Subspecies

Parnassius simonius simoniusParnassius simonius grayi Avinoff, 1916Parnassius simonius nigrificatus Kreuzberg, 1986Parnassius simonius taldicus Gundorov, 1991