Phylogeny & Revision of the genus Heraclides

Around the opening of the ostium the plates are very sclerotized, fused anteriorly. There is a
small slightly sclerotized bulbous posterior projection. The peripheral vestibular plates are wide
and only highly sclerotized and fuse anterior to, and below the ostium as a thin line. A broad,
sclerotized tongue-like plate, with a ventrally indented midline, is present above and posterior to
the vestibule. It is separated on both sides from the peripheral vestibular plates by a deep
sclerotized trough. The corpus bursa has a long strap-like or zipper-like signum that is medially
seamed and oriented longitudinally on the corpus bursa.
Variation. Not very variable.
Natural History. Relatively rare, this species can be found within very dry Acacia scrub.
Occurrence of this species is closely tied to environmental conditions and some years can be
relatively common in very restricted areas; at other times it can be quite rare. They are most
common in June and August and it has been suggested that emergence is triggered by rainfall.
Adults have been observed nectaring on Cordia spp., Lantana ovatifolia, and Antgonon leptotus
(Schwartz, 1989; Smith et al., 1994).
Life history. Unknown.
Type(s). Probably lost or only as published image.
Distribution (Figure 6-73). Hispaniola (Haiti and the Dominican Republic).
Remarks. Possibly closely related to H. caiguanabus. IUCN Red list of threatened species
lists this species with an indeterminate status.
Heraclides caiguanabus (Poey [1852])
Papilio caiguanabus (Poey [1852]): Plate 15.
Papilio numicus (Hopffer, 1856): 1, plate 1, figure 3 & 4.
Diagnosis. Most wing elements lost except for the sub-marginal on both forewing and
hindwing. Remnants of the central band remain as a few spots near wing apex. Females with
distinctive white sub-marginal spots instead of yellow; these spots are yellow on the ventral.
Adult Male (Figure 6-6e) Body. Frons, labial palp, inter-antennal ridge and antennae
similar to H. aristor. Pectus black with yellow scales on the anterior surfaces of foreleg only.
Tegula similar to H. aristor but with yellow reduced to a few scales; tarsi with spines; epiphysis
present on foreleg; tibial spur formula 0-2-2; tarsal claws bifid; abdomen black.
Forewing. Length 38-46 mm (n = 4). Ground color black. The pattern is missing the
central band, except for two very small spots of the apical branch at r2-r3 and r3-r4. Eight submarginal
spots are well represented. The marginal spots are well developed. The well developed
tails have no tail spot. The ventral surface is similar to the dorsal, with additional spots from the
costal branch of the central band showing up at r5-m1 and occasionally at m2-m3, but these tend
to be paler. The sub-marginal element of the eye spot is more oval shaped, with yellow at the
edges, and with inner post-discal band element as a diffused crescent of light blue scales. The
spots of the marginal band are well represented.
Hindwing. Similar to H. aristor, but with the sub-marginal spots more robust and of a
darker yellow than the rest of the wing spots. The marginal spots are well represented. The tail
has no tail spot. The ventral has the inner post-discal band element similar to the dorsal, but more
pronounced, with a reduction in the size of the inner post-discal band elements at the wing apex.
The two proximal post-discal spots are more developed than in H. aristor.
Genitalia. (Figure 6-42) Similar to H. aristor, but with more serrations accompanying the
distal spine on the harpe. The pseuduncus is a bit shorter and broader than in H. aristor.
Adult Female (Figure 6-6f) Body. As in the male.
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