SYSTEMATICS OF THE PAPILIO-GLAUCUS AND P-TROILUS SPECIES GROUPS (LEPIDOPTERA, PAPILIONIDAE) - INFERENCES FROM ALLOZYMES

Host plant associations have been studied extensively in swallowtail butterfilies of the Papilio glaucus L. and P. troilus L. species groups, but taxonomic status of these species has not been fully resolved. We used allozyme electrophoresis to score butterflies representing 12 of 13 described taxa for 26 enzyme loci. Our results show that six taxa within the P. glaucus group (alexiares Hoppfer, canadensis Rothschild & Jordan, eurymedon Lucas, glaucus, multicaudatus Kirby, and rutulus Lucas) are differentiated sufficiently from one another to warrant recognition as distinct species. For the P. troilus group, we recognize three species (palamedes Drury, pilumnus Boisduval, and troilus) and two subspecies (troilus troilus and troilus ilioneus Smith). Phylogenetic analysis of allozyme characters for the P. glaucus group reveals that P. glaucus and P. alexiares are sister taxa. Relationships among other species in the group are less certain. In the P. troilus group, P. palamedes and P. troilus represent a lineage distinct from P. pilumnus.