Narrative

New World Papilio machaon group is in a state of taxonomic confusion. The thinking used here is that Papilio polyxenes is found from New England to southern Colombia. However, the western United States and Canadian forms of this complex group have been divided into many different species. There is no doubt that the thinking will change as breeding experiments are conducted.

When Rothschild and Jordan revised the New World Papilionidae they listed only six species in this group. However, six of the various subspecies have been raised to full species status.

Papilio brevicauda used to be considered a subspecies of Papilio polyxenes. Papilio gothica was a mountain form of Papilio zelicaon. Papilio rudkini was a desert form of Papilio zelicaon.

Papilio joanae is a new discovery from southern Missouri that is closely related to Papilio polyxenes. Papilio oregonius is a form from the Pacific Northwest related to Papilio machaon. Papilio kahli is very close to Papilio polyxenes and Papilio machaon. The species are (an * indicates that this species is pictured):

SPECIES - - - - - - LOCATION
Papilio brevicauda* - East Canada
Papilio kahli* - Central-West Canada
Papilio oregonius* - West Canada and northwest USA
Papilio gothica* - Rocky Mountains of USA
Papilio joanae* - Ozarks of south Missouri of USA
Papilio polyxenes* - East USA to Colombia
Papilio bairdi* - West USA
Papilio rudkini* - Deserts of southwest USA
Papilio zelicaon* - mostly California
Papilio indra* - mostly mountains of west USA
Papilio machaon* - North Canada (and Old World)
Papilio nitra* - Alberta Canada to Colorado

Taxonomy

References