Friday, December 31, 2010

happy new year 2011

happy new year 2011

Wishing all a Happy New Year 2011. May you have a bright year ahead.

Monday, December 27, 2010

Male Common Rose / Gewöhnliche Rose {swallowtail butterfly}

Male Common Rose / Gewöhnliche Rose {swallowtail butterfly}

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Family: Papilionidae Subfamily: Papilioninae Genus: Atrophaneura Subgenus: Pachliopta Species: Atrophaneura (Pachliopta) aristolochiae (Fabricius, 1775) Common Rose / Gewöhnliche Rose The Common Rose is a small member of the Papilionidae family of swallowtails, in the genus Atrophaneura {red-bodied} and sub genus Pachliopta {the roses}. It is extensively distributed across South and South East Asia. The wingspan is 9.0 to 10.0 cm across, black with white and red spots, with tails on the hind wings. (the males do not have the white spots nor red spots on the upperside of the hind wings.) Its larvae feed on creepers and climbers of the genus Aristolochia and they sequester toxins such as aristolochic acid in their bodies. They are inedible to vertebrate predators like birds and reptiles.