The Karakoram Banded Apollo (Parnassius staudingeri hunza) is a high altitude butterfly which is found in India. It is a member of genus Parnassius

Parnassius

Parnassius is a genus of northern circumpolar and montane butterflies usually known as Apollos. They can vary in colour and form significantly based on their altitude. They also show an adaptation to high altitudes called altitudinal melanism...

of the swallowtail (Papilionidae) family. It was variously treated as a subspecies

Subspecies

Subspecies in biological classification, is either a taxonomic rank subordinate to species, ora taxonomic unit in that rank . A subspecies cannot be recognized in isolation: a species will either be recognized as having no subspecies at all or two or more, never just one...

 of P. delphius

Parnassius delphius

The Banded Apollo Parnassius delphius is a high altitude butterfly which is found in Central Asia. It is a member of the genus Parnassius of the swallowtail family.-Status:...

and a distinct species

Species

In biology, a species is one of the basic units of biological classification and a taxonomic rank. A species is often defined as a group of organisms capable of interbreeding and producing fertile offspring. While in many cases this definition is adequate, more precise or differing measures are...

.

Description

Male upperside ground-colour duller, more sullied white. Fore wing: the discal band in typical specimens very much shorter, not extended below vein 5, but in all specimens that I have seen that have been taken within our limits, the discal band reaches vein 1, and where it crosses interspace 3 is joined on to the postdiscal transverse band by a broad cross-bar, that extends right up to the base of that interspace. Hindwing: the sub-terminal series of dark spots reduced to one or two near the tornus, the anterior spots (except the spot in interspace 7) replaced by a curved band of somewhat luuulur spots that extends unbroken between the spot in interspace 3 and that iu interspace 7. Underside : similar to the underside in Parnassius stoliczkanus

Parnassius stoliczkanus

Ladakh Banded Apollo Parnassius stoliczkanus is a rare high-altitude butterfly which is found in Central Asia. It is a member of the Snow Apollo genus Parnassius of the Swallowtail family. It is named after the naturalist and explorer Ferdinand Stoliczka.-Description:Male upperside dull white...

, with no red spots at the base of the hind wing; in a few specimens a discal and a subcostal black-encircled red spot are present. Antennae, head, thorax and abdomen as in stoliczkanus.

Range

Afghanistan, Pakistan, northern India (including Jammu & Kashmir, Himmachal Pradesh and Uttaranchal), Western China (?), Tibet (?).

Status

Widely distributed. Locally common, generally rare. Not known to be threatened. Requires further research. Protected by law in India. Featured in erstwhile USSR Red Data Book. Vulnerable.

Other references

• Collins, N.M., Morris, M.G. (1985) Threatened Swallowtail Butterflies of the World. IUCN. ISBN 2-88032-603-6
• Evans, W.H., (1932) The Identification of Indian Butterflies (2nd Ed), Bombay Natural History Society, Mumbai, India
• Haribal, Meena., (1992) The Butterflies of Sikkim Himalaya.Sikkim Nature Conservation Foundation, Gangtok
• Wynter-Blyth, M.A., (1957) Butterflies of the Indian Region, Bombay Natural History Society, Mumbai, India.
• Sakai S., Inaoka S., Toshiaki A., Yamaguchi S., Watanabe Y., (2002) The Parnassiology. The Parnassius Butterflies, A Study in Evolution, Kodansha, Japan. ISBN 4-06-124051-X
• Weiss Jean-Claude, (1999) Parnassiinae of the World, Hillside Books, Canterbury
  Hillside Books, Canterbury
  - Origin :It was established in 1989 and was directed by Lydie Leforestier.The name comes from they were initially located Hillside Avenue at Canterbury.Then, they were situated in Lindfield, West Sussex, U.K.- Activities :...
  
  , UK. ISBN 0-9532240-2-3,

See also

• Papilionidae
• List of Butterflies of India
• List of Butterflies of India (Papilionidae)