Apollo Butterfly, subspecies Merzbacher / Merzbacher's (Kaldyrkany) Apollo Butterfly / Merzbacher’s Apollo Butterfly

Apollo Butterfly, Merzbacher subspecies

Status: Category 3 (LR-nt). A local subspecies whose populations are potentially vulnerable but not endangered. The species P. apollo is included in the IUCN RLTS (VU A2cde category as assessed in 1996) [76], in CITES Appendix II, and several regional Red Books [26]. The largest [46] of the 47 representatives [90] of the Holarctic genus; an impressive and nature-adorned species. An object of amateur collecting [1].

Brief description of the adult stage appearance. A large butterfly with a wingspan of 70-95 mm. The overall color of the wings is white or cream, with a black pattern, and two red spots on the hindwings, each bordered in black and with more or less pronounced white eyespots. Males are usually lighter and slightly smaller than females, which develop a light claw-like structure (spermatophore) on the tip of the abdomen after mating.

General distribution and in the country. Sporadic throughout the Euro-Siberian range of the species, which forms about 60 local subspecies. P. a. merzbacheri has a Dzhungar-North Tien Shan range [88]. The subspecies P. a. transiliensis Eisner [12] indicated for Kyrgyzstan is synonymized by many specialists [88, 90] with P. a. merzbacheri; other indicated subspecies taxa ([55]: bartholomaeus Stichel, sibirica Nordmann, hesebolus Nordm. and nominative) are the result of inaccurate identification. In Kyrgyzstan, it is found in the Kyrgyz, Jumgal, Kastek, Zailiysky, Kungei, and Terskei Ala-Tuu ranges [50, 40]; the indication for the At-Bashi range [55] is erroneous.

Habitats. P. a. merzbacheri inhabits mid-mountain meadow-forest and meadow-steppe landscapes, rocky slopes with tall grass and subalpine meadows at altitudes of 1000 to 3000 m above sea level [5, 40, 50].

Population. There have been noted (visually) a relative abundance of imagos (100-120 individuals/ha [50]) of P. a. merzbacheri in undisturbed habitats during mass flight and significant fluctuations in numbers in different years [40].

Life cycle (life history). In natural conditions, it is a monovoltine species. The first-instar caterpillar overwinters, often not leaving the egg shell; the diapause of P. a. merzbacheri in the Karkyra area (Kungei Ala-Tuu range) ends in mid-April [50]; young caterpillars live in groups, feeding on the leaves of stonecrops (Sedum ewersii Ledeb., S. hybridum L., S. alberti Regel) and probably Orostachys spinosa (L.) C. A. Mey from the Crassulaceae family [18, 40]; adult caterpillars are observed in June, the pupal stage lasts 10-16 days; flight occurs from late June to autumn. The pre-imaginal stages and biology of P. apollo are described in sufficient detail [18].

Limiting factors. A highly sedentary species, incapable of even minor migrations [26]. For lowland, more vulnerable populations of P. apollo, the main cause of extinction is agricultural development of habitats, especially haymaking [54]. Negative influences also include recreational pressures, pesticide treatments [26], collection by enthusiasts [1], and prolonged periods of adverse weather conditions. Stenophagy (also a limiting factor) on plants that are toxic to most phytophages is the reason for the almost complete absence of competitors [35]. No parasitoids of the Hymenoptera have been registered on P. a. merzbacheri caterpillars so far, but tachinid flies and bacterial-viral diseases have been noted [40].

Breeding (keeping in captivity). There is positive experience. In Kyrgyzstan, experiments have been successfully conducted on maintaining an isolated population in culture for several generations [40].

Existing conservation measures. The species was included in the Red Book of the republic in 1984 [60]. Populations exist in the territories of the Kemin, Karakol, and "Ala-Archa" National Parks, and the Aksu Complex Reserve [50], and are also protected in the Almaty Nature Reserve (Kazakhstan) [9]. Throughout the range of P. apollo, it is protected by regional Red Lists and in protected areas.

Recommended conservation measures. In most habitats of the subspecies, the intensity of anthropogenic pressure is currently below average, while in areas with increasing pressure (Aalamidin Gorge, Taldy-Bulak), it is necessary to create 2-3 micro-reserves where grazing, mowing, and recreational pressures should be limited, conduct quantitative assessments (monitoring), clarify the range of forage plants, and study the possibility of reintroduction.

Merzbacher’s Apollo Butterfly

Merzbacher’s Apollo Butterfly
Parnassius (s. str.) apollo (Linnaeus, 1758) ssp. merzbacheri Fruhstorfer, 1906
Status: “Lower Risk - near threatened” (LR-nt - Category III), North Tien Shan and Dzhungar subspecies of mosaic-distributed widespread noticeable large butterfly, the species is included into IUCN RLTS, Appendix II of CITES and many regional Red Lists. The species is monovoltine; butterflies occur from end of June to autumn in meadow-steppe or meadow-wood biotopes with host-plants (Sedum ewersii, S. hybridum, S. alberti), at 1,000-3,000 m above sea level, in Alexander, Dzhumgal, Kastek, Zailiisky, Kungei and Terskei Ala-Too Mountain Ranges. Number is various in different years, maximal is to 100-120 imagos per hectare. Any local population can quickly disappear in case of biotope destruction since this species is incapable to migrate. Degeneration of habitats arises from haying and excessive cattle pasture. At present several populations are under the protection in Issyk-Kul Nature reservation. Habitats of some populations are threatened and need to be as micro-reservations with regulation of anthropogenic influence. Monitoring, study of the biology and forage reserve and experiments on the breeding and reintroduction should be continued.