Parnassius apollo (Linnaeus, 1758)

阿波羅絹蝶、太陽神絹蝶

Apollo butterfly

鳳蝶科(Papilionidae)，絹蝶亞科(Parnassiinae)，絹蝶族(Parnassiini)

Wingspan around 6-8 cm. Wing ground colour creamy white and all veins grayish yellow,l termen of forewings bearing semi-hyaline band with irregular submarginal stripes; two rows discoidal spots present; anal angle having black anal spot; wing base black; both forewing and hindwings with prominent red spots. Male similar to female in colouration but smaller in size and yellowish. Some populations similar to Parnassius tianschanicus in wing pattern.

This species ranges through the whole western Palaearctic region to Xingjiang area of W. Asia. Due to over-collecting and habitat destruction, most known existing populations are scattered in some limited areas. The subspecific classification of this species varies with authors. According to Kaabak et al. (1997), the valid subspecies are as follows:
Parnassius apollo finmarchicus Rothschild, 1909-N. Europe
Parnassius apollo democratus Krulikowky, 1906-C. Europe
Parnassius apollo rosenius Fruhstorfer, 1923-Carpathians
Parnassius apollo limicola Stichel, 1906-Ural
Parnassius apollo alpherakyi Krulikowsky, 1906-Altai
Parnassius apollo merzbacheri Fruhstorfer, 1906-Tienshan
Parnassius apollo meinhardi Sheljuzhko, 1924 -W. Siberia
Parnassius apollo sibirica Nordmann, 1851-E. Siberia
Parnassius apollo hesebolus Nordmann, 1851-Transbaikalia, Yakutia
Parnassius apollo suaneticus Arnold, 1909-Caucasius
Parnassius apollo kashtschenko Sheljuzhko, 1908-Armenia

This species survives at rocky and sloppy grassland at 750-2000 m. The larvae feeding on Sedum spp. of Crassulaceace. The whole life span takes one year. Some populations have been reported having hybridization zones with Parnassius tianschanicus.

Apollo butterfly is the first invertebrate species listed in CITES though it has been declined since the 19th century. In many countries, over-collecting is believed being one of the major factors causing their decline. Deforestation and replacement of primary forests in Germany, Poland and Spain also destroyed their habitats. In addition, acid rain in the northern Europe is considered a key factor to lead extinction of this species from this area. Two subspecies in France and one population in E. Germany have been thought completely extinct for years. The population in Xingjiang near China belongs to the protected species of the mainland China, however, no any ecological and conservational information are available so far. For more information about ecology and conservation of this species see Back & Rachuba (1985), Bengtsson et al. (1989), Betti (1989), Brommer & Fred (1999), Dabrowski (1984), Elmquist (1998), Gogstad (2000), Gomariz-Cerezo (1993), Janzon (1990), Lushai et al. (2000), Napolitano et al. (1990), Nardelli et al (1989), Pierron (1992b) and Tarrier (1994). 。