Parnassiinae

Classification

Phylum: Arthropoda
Subphylum: Hexapoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera
Superfamily: Papilionoidea
Family: Papilionidae
Subfamily: Parnassiinae

Pronunciation

How to pronounce Parnassiinae: //pɑːrˈnæsɪ.aɪˌniː//

These audio files are automatically generated. While they are not always 100% accurate, they are a good starting point.

Images

PARNASSIAN, CLODIUS (Parnassiaus clodius) (6-24-2018) skamania co, wa -04 (28494622887) by ALAN SCHMIERER from southeast AZ, USA. Used under a CC0 license.

PARNASSIAN, ROCKY MOUNTAIN (Parnassius smintheus) (8-20-13) 10,500 ft, just s of elwood pass, far n-w conejos co, co -01 (9595883636) by ALAN SCHMIERER. Used under a CC0 license.

PARNASSIAN, ROCKY MOUNTAIN (Parnassius smintheus) (8-20-13) 10,500 ft, just s of elwood pass, far n-w conejos co, co -10 (9595899486) by ALAN SCHMIERER. Used under a CC0 license.

Rocky Mountain Parnassian, Parnassius smintheus, 9300' Bench north of Prairie Dog Knoll, Abajo Mountains, Utah. 3 June 2020, Robb Hannawacker (50149491757) by Robb Hannawacker. Used under a Public domain license.

PARNASSIAN, ROCKY MOUNTAIN (Parnassius smintheus) (8-20-13) 10,500 ft, just s of elwood pass, far n-w conejos co, co -11 (9593098733) by ALAN SCHMIERER. Used under a CC0 license.

Parnassius smintheus P1480048a by
xpda. Used under a CC BY-SA 4.0 license.

Summary

The Parnassiinae, known as snow Apollos, are a subfamily of swallowtail butterflies characterized by their medium size and predominantly white or yellow coloration, primarily found in high-altitude environments across multiple continents.

Physical Characteristics

Medium-sized butterflies, typically white or yellow in coloration.

Identification Tips

Look for the characteristic colors and medium size, which distinguish them from other butterflies.

Habitat

High-altitude areas across Asia, Europe, and North America.

Distribution

Distributed widely in Asia, Europe, and North America.

Diet

Adults typically feed on nectar from flowers.

Life Cycle

Like most butterflies, they undergo complete metamorphosis: egg, larva (caterpillar), pupa (chrysalis), and adult.

Reproduction

Details on specific reproductive behaviors vary by species; typically involve laying eggs on host plants.

Predators

Their main predators include birds, wasps, and some mammals.

Ecosystem Role

Pollinators in their respective ecosystems, contributing to plant reproduction.