Crimson Rose

Crimson Rose Atrophaneura (Pachliopta) hector is a large swallowtail butterfly belonging to the Pachliopta subgenus, the Roses, of the genus Atrophaneura or the Red-bodied Swallowtails.

Range

It is found in India and Sri Lanka and possibly the coast of western Myanmar.

In India, it is found in the Western Ghats, southern India (Kerala), eastern India (West Bengal and Orissa) and the Andaman Islands. Recorded from Pune.

Status

Generally common and not known to be threatened. It is common all along the Western Ghats up to Maharashtra but rare in Gujarat. It is considered to be very rare in the Andamans. Protected by law in India.

Description

Male Upperside black. Fore wing with a broad white interrupted band from the subcostal nervure opposite the origin of veins 10 and 11, extended obliquely to the tornus, and a second short pre-apical similar band; both bands composed of detached irregularly indented broad streaks in the interspaces. Hind wing with a diseal posteriorly strongly curved series of seven crimson spots followed by a subterminal series of crimson lunules. Cilia black alternated with white. Underside: fore whig dull brownish black, hind wing black; markings as on the npporsido, but the crimson spots and crescentic markings on the hind wing larger. Antennae, thorax and abdomen abovo at base, black; head and rest of the abdomen bright crimson; beneath: iho palpi, the sides of the thorax and abdomen crimson.

Female. Similar, the discal series of spots and subterminal lunules much duller, pale crimson irrorated with black scales ; in some specimens the anterior spots and lunules almost white barely tinged with crimson; abdomen above with the black colour extended further towards the apex.[1]

No geographic races have been described.