Parnassiology. From Rhyme to Crime

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Apollos, or Parnassiini, is a tribus of swallowtails, numbering, according to various estimates, from 48 to 54 species in the Palearctic, and about 57—59 species in total. Having no economic significance, these butterflies, however, are well known to almost everyone: The Apollo butterfly (Parnassius apollo (Linnaeus, 1758), one of the largest butterflies in Europe, is often found in advertising, on postage stamps, posters, etc.

Representatives of Parnassiini are a commercial group of insects with all the ensuing consequences. Within the tribus, there are both «valuable» and not very «valuable» species – accordingly, with different approaches to covering their distribution. For example, the last of the described species of Parnassiini in all guides to butterflies of Kyrgyzstan has a very vaguely designated range. The reason for this is the desire to keep the locality unknown to most collectors for as long as possible, so as not to generate competition in the market. Although the type locality of this species has long been an open secret, the literature continues to conceal the location known to everyone.

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translucent scales unfolded, stretched.

Lifted from retreat, how we soared.

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