Species Papilio rumiko - Western Giant Swallowtail - Hodges#4170.1

Classification · Hodges Number · Synonyms and other taxonomic changes · Explanation of Names · Identification · Range · Food · Remarks · See Also · Print References · Works Cited

pupa on stucco wall of porch - Papilio rumiko

Western Giant Swallowtail - Papilio rumiko

What is this on lime tree? - Papilio rumiko

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Classification

Kingdom Animalia (Animals)

Phylum Arthropoda (Arthropods)

Subphylum Hexapoda (Hexapods)

Class Insecta (Insects)

Order Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)

Superfamily Papilionoidea (Butterflies and Skippers)

Family Papilionidae (Swallowtails, Parnassians)

Subfamily Papilioninae

Tribe Papilionini (Fluted Swallowtails)

Genus Papilio

Species rumiko (Western Giant Swallowtail - Hodges#4170.1)

Hodges Number

4170.1

Synonyms and other taxonomic changes

Heraclides rumiko Shiraiwa & Grishin, 2014. Type locality: “USA: Texas: Duval Co., Benavides, CR306, 1.8 mi west of SH339, latitude 27̊ 36'27", longitude -98̊ 26'29.4", elevation 124 m”

Explanation of Names

The species is named to honor the wife of the first author. Pronounced as ’roo(as in rue)-mee(as in meek)-koh(as in cod). The stress is on the first syllable. (1)

Identification

Side-by-side Photo Comparison and Discussion (1)

Range

CA to c. TX, CO / Mex. to Panama - Map (1)

Food

Eggs are laid singly on young leaves and shoots of the host plants from Rutaceae family: Zanthoxylum fagara, Ptelea trifoliata, Amyris texana, and Casimiroa greggii in Texas, or Ruta graveolens and Citrus spp. in both states, and likely others. For instance, ovipositions were recorded on Geijera parviflora in Tucson, Pima Co., Arizona (1)

Remarks

It is debated as to whether this is truly a distinct species or a regional variant of P. cresphontes. There is evidence that the two may intergrade, but more study is needed on the subject.

See Also

closely allied to the now "Eastern Giant Swallowtail," the two species can usually be told apart by the shape and size of yellow spots on the neck, by the wing shape, and the details of wing patterns. (1)

Print References

Shiraiwa, K., Q. Cong, N.V. Grishin. 2014. A new Heraclides swallowtail (Lepidoptera, Papilionidae) from North America is recognized by the pattern on its neck. ZooKeys 468: 85-135. (1)

Works Cited

1.	A new Heraclides swallowtail (Lepidoptera, Papilionidae) from North America is recognized by the pattern on its neck. Kojiro Shiraiwa, Qian Cong, Nick V. Grishin. 2014. ZooKeys 468: 85-135.

Contributed by Mike Quinn on 23 December, 2014 - 3:49pm
Additional contributions by David Ferguson
Last updated 27 February, 2018 - 6:12pm

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