Mountain Treasures, Papilionidae & Parnassines

Brand-new glass entomological box (26x33x6cm) containing twenty-eight butterflies of the large family Papilionidae and the subfamily Parnassinae. Some twenty species of the genus Parnassius, all well identified (P. apolinaris or apollinus, P. Orleans, P. felderi, etc.). Paranssius orleans owes its name to the Duc d'Orléans, who is said to have discovered it during his hunting expeditions in the Himalayas. Its species are often called Apollons, in reference to the Greek god of the same name. They are native to the circumpolar and especially mountainous regions (Alps, Pyrenees, Himalayas, Mongolian Altai, etc.) of the northern hemisphere. They are quite variable in shape and color. Their remarkable adaptation to life at altitude is due to the darker coloration of the body and wing bases (clearly visible on our specimens), which allows the insect to warm up quickly in the slightest ray of sunlight. Also on display are a dozen or so related lepidopterans belonging to the genus Archon, species apollinus, native to the mountainous regions of Turkey, often referred to as the "false apollon".
None of these species have tails on their wings, but the caterpillars do have an osmeterium like other members of the Papilionidae family. Unlike most butterflies, the apollon chrysalis is housed in a silky cocoon.
The box is brand new and all the butterflies are in perfect condition.