Papilio bacchus (Felder & Felder, 1865)

Satipo Peru ssp. chrysomelas
Color abberation Junin, Peru, May 1998  Specimen Ianni Butterflies "clarius" same verso
Villavalencia, Colombia  ssp bacchus Rio Topo, Tungarahua, Ecuador form balsazaar

    A montane species sometimes treated as a variety of Papilio zagreus, it ranges from N Bolivia through the Colombian Andes, where the nominate race was described. Rare in the North, the southern population, ssp. chrysomelas, is locally common. Females are rarely seen. It is a rather good mimic of the distasteful/toxic Heliconius numata splendida, affording it some protection against predators.