Taxonomic update of Parnassius hardwickii Gray (Lepidoptera: Papilionidae: Parnassiinae) from Hattu (Narkanda) of Western Himalaya (Himachal Pradesh)

Abstract

The aim of the present study was to examine the taxonomic status of the species Parnassius hardwickii Gray, 1831 from Hattu (Narkanda) of Himachal Pradesh. The species Parnassius hardwickii Gray, 1831 was collected from Hattu (Narkanda) of Himachal Pradesh during September 2013. The species Parnassius hardwickii Gray, 1831 belonging to the superfamily Papilionoidea, family Papilionidae, subfamily Parnassiinae and tribe Parnassiini of the order lepidoptera. The fore and hind wings of the species were transparent, commonly known as “Common Blue Apollo”. The species were examined on the basis of external morphology, structure of compound eyes, antennae, shapes of external male genitalia like uncus, tegumen, valva, vinculum, saccus and aedeagus. The male genitalic attributes of the species were illustrated and described in details.