Heraclides rumiko Shiraiwa & Grishin

Male (n=95, Figs 7–8, 11a, 13 part) – holotype forewing length = 50 mm. Size on average smaller (mean forewing length 54 mm, maximum observed 58 mm) than Heraclides cresphontes. Wings typically narrower, less scalloped, and wing shape less variable than in Heraclides cresphontes, hindwing tail longer and narrower, weakly spoon-shaped. Ground color black to dark chocolate-brown. Dorsal forewing: Two maize-yellow bands: a central band of 9 spots from apex to basal third at inner margin in all cells from R3-R4 to 1A; and a sub-marginal band of 3 to 7 spots in cells from R4-R5 to CuA2-1A, absent or vestigial in most specimens anteriad of three cells between M3 and 1A veins. Several smaller maize-yellow spots near costa at the end of discal cell. Background-colored dark oval spot of variable size inside or at the anterior edge of the yellow central band spot in cell R5-M1, sometimes dividing the yellow spot into two. Marginal pale spots at dips between veins small or almost absent. Dorsal hindwing: Two maize-yellow bands extending from forewing: undivided into spots central band in wing basal third from costa to inner margin, with small tooth-like protrusions distad along veins Rs and M1; and sub-marginal band of 7 spots in cells from Sc+R1-Rs to CuA2-1A+2A, the tornal spots up to margin. Maroon-red to orange-red eyespot near tornus with blue crescent above. Center of the tail tip yellow. Ventral forewing: Yellow color paler; wider yellow central band weakly divided into spots from forewing costa to inner margin; submarginal band of 8 or 9 (spot near tornus may be divided into two) spots larger than on dorsal side in cells between veins R3 and 1A. Marginal pale spots at dips between veins larger than above. Discal cell yellow, overscaled with dark and with 5 variously developed dark longitudinal streaks. Ventral hindwing: Largely maize-yellow, a dark-brown rather straight discal band from costa through the end of discal cell to tornus with blue crescents inside in each cell and orange-red tornal spot distal to blue crescent. Distal end of discal cell with black (in some specimens blue) lines, often fused with the median band. Cells M2-M3 and M3-CuA1 orange-red at the base; few or no orange-red scales at the base of M1-M2 cell. Margin bordered black, with yellow edges along concavities. Dark-brown rays along veins between discal and marginal dark bands. Tail tip with yellow spot in the middle. Head and body: Antennae dark-brown, segments ringed with yellow beneath. Head and thorax dark-brown dorsally and yellow ventrally. Two longitudinal yellow stripes on head, patagia and tegulae forming two continuous yellow lines from head to thorax (Fig. 11a), only rarely and weakly separated into spots. Abdomen yellow, with a black dorsal stripe fading posteriad in many specimens. Male genitalia (n=34; Fig. 11a–d, 14 part): Pseuduncus shaped as a tooth like, pointed projection flattened at the tip not extending posteriad beyond uncus, thus leaving a gap between the last tergum and valvae. In lateral view, pseuduncus dorsally flat but ventrally convex towards the tip. Uncus more slender than in Heraclides cresphontes, divided into two curved horn-like arms; each arm directed posterodorsad, curved laterad initially and then strongly mediad, narrowing to a point. Brachium arms from the base of uncus ventrad, narrow, shorter than uncus, directed posteroventrad and mediad, differently from uncus in dorsoventral projection. Both uncus and brachium visible in dorsal view (Fig. 11c). In Heraclides cresphontes brachium mostly covered by uncus (Fig. 11C). Valva somewhat square in shape, broadly rounded at the angles. Harpe oval, without long projections and spikes, finely dentate ventrad in posterior half, with apex curved inward. Distal end of harpe very close to the edge of valva, closer than in Heraclides cresphontes, and valva projects distad from the denticulate edge of harpe less than in Heraclides cresphontes, costa of valva usually broader than in Heraclides cresphontes. Aedeagus as long as the valva, straight and stout, no cornuti. Juxta U-shaped, gracile and smooth. Saccus short, barely protruding anteriad beyond vinculum. Female (n=28, Figs 9–10): Similar to male but larger, with broader wings, ground color paler, yellow bands typically narrower and paler: cream-yellow on forewing and somewhat yellower on hindwing. Female genitalia (n=11, Fig. 12a–i): Lamella postvaginalis tongue-shaped, ventrally convex smooth fig somewhat longer than wide, with rounded or slightly concave posterior margin, variable in width and length, lamella antevaginalis narrow, poorly sclerotized, laterally extending into narrow peripheral vestibular figs surrounding lamella postvaginalis on the sides up to its middle. Inner edge of each fig with short, tooth-like projection in some specimens (Fig. 12e). Antrum with two weakly sclerotized small figs along sides. Ductus bursae short, not longer than sterigma. Corpus bursae with a long longitudinal signum on ventral side.

Heraclides rumiko is recorded from the southwestern United States (mostly southern regions of four states: CA, AZ, NM, and TX) to Panama (DNA barcode data obtained for specimens from Mexico, El Salvador, Honduras, Costa Rica, and Panama). The northernmost barcoded specimen is from northeastern Colorado. In Mexico, Heraclides rumiko tends to be absent from deserts and high mountains, but is found elsewhere (Molina and León 2006). In central Texas, Heraclides rumiko is sympatric with its sister species Heraclides cresphontes. In Costa Rica and Panama, it is sympatric with Heraclides homothoas Rothschild & Jordan, 1906 (Tyler et al 1994), a likely sister to the ancestor of Heraclides cresphontes and Heraclides rumiko. In the 1960s, Heraclides rumiko began expanding its distribution in California northward, and by the 1980s, it has reached central California (Emmel and Emmel 1973, Erickson and Iliff 2004). Citrus was cultivated in California from as early as 1840s (Laszlo 2007), and the factors that prevented Heraclides rumiko from northward expansion for 120 years are unknown. The increase in ornamental citrus trees may have supported the buildup of Papilio rumiko numbers in southern California and the butterfly can now be commonly found in urban areas. Rue, another host, is very commonly cultivated in southern California today.