Parnassius orleans ssp?

[dertodesking]

Thought I'd try my luck with this one after getting a successful ID to the P. delphius I posted (thanks again lepido ;D).

The only data I have on this is Qinghai, Xunhui County, China. The label also refers to "Mengda" but I don't know if this is a place or the name of the collector?!?!?

Unfortunately I have no information on the altitude that this was taken at...

Anyway, thanks in advance for ANY assistance

Simon

[lepidofrance]

a) I got several Parnassius acdestis GRUM-GRSHIMAILO, 1891, said from
Mengda, Yunhua county, Qinghai Chine. This was a gift and I remain suspicious about these collecting data !

b) Following Google Earth, Mengda is approx : 35°51'44 North by 102°28' East.

c) Parnassius (Driopa) orleans OBERTHUR, 1890, is known from China (Sichuan, Yunnan, Tibet, Gansu, Qinghai, Shensi) and from extreme North of Myanmar (Kachin State). Sub-species are :

- P. orleans orleans : East Tibet, Noth Burma and Sichuan ; this is the darker ssp.

- P. orleans groumi : Qinghai (less darker)

- P. orleans bourboni : North Qinghai ; very whitish with red ocellas larger.

P. orleans flies between 2000 m asl and 4000 (northern part of the range) or 5000 m asl (southern part).

Looking to your picture, I presume that's P. orleans bourboni. Check this ID with someone more cleaver than me about this species I never had the chance to meet in nature (I was looking for it last summer in Yunnan but at the right place the weather was very bad during the couple of days I spent there).

Warm regards

Here is a Google Earth picture showing Meng Da location (red spots).

[dertodesking]

Lepido,

Thanks AGAIN !!! ;D (you are my Parnassius "hero"!!! LOL).

I'd searched for "Mengda" but had not thought to try "Meng Da".

Thank you again,

Simon