"Head rough-haired. Ocelli absent. Tongue developed. Antennæ slender,
dilated apically, forming a gradual or abrupt club. Labial palpi
moderately long, more or less rough-haired, terminal joint rather
pointed. Maxillary palpi obsolete. Thorax more or less hairy. Fore-wings
with 1_b_ simple, 1_c_ absent, 5 usually from or above middle of
transverse vein. Hind-wings without frenulum, 1_c_ absent, 3 and 4
usually connate, 8 rising out of cell near base, rapidly
diverging."--(Meyrick.) (See Plate I., figs. 7, 8, 15, 16, 25, 26, 27.)
This is one of the most interesting groups of the Lepidoptera. The insects
comprised in it are popularly known as butterflies, and from their bright
colouring and conspicuous appearance are always favourites with beginners.
The _Papilionina_ attain great development in the tropics, especially in
South America, where, it is said, a single valley sometimes contains as
many species as the whole of Europe. In New Zealand there are only fifteen
species of butterflies, the group being extremely poorly represented both
here and in the South Pacific Islands.
Formerly the _Papilionina_ was known as the _Rhopalocera_, and was regarded
as constituting a division of equivalent value to the remainder of the
Lepidoptera, which was termed the _Heterocera_. For some time past
entomologists have, however, practically abandoned this classification of
the order, the _Heterocera_, or moths, being clearly composed of several
groups each of equivalent value to the _Rhopalocera_, or butterflies. Mr.
Meyrick states in his 'Handbook of British Lepidoptera' that the
_Papilionina_ "stands rather conspicuously isolated at the present day, but
there is little doubt that its origin must be traced to the _Thyrididæ_, a
family of the _Pyralidina_."
In this group the wings are generally held erect in repose, the under
surface of the hind-wings and the apical portion of the under surface of
the fore-wings being nearly always protectively coloured, these being
portions of the wings exposed to view when the insect is at rest. There is
an unusual amount of ornamental colouring on the upper surface. The flight
is invariably diurnal. The larva has ten prolegs.
The three following families of _Papilionina_ are represented in New
Zealand:--