Papilio esperanza (Beutelspacher, 1975)

La Esperanza, Oaxaca, Mexico; June 1979   recto  photo courtesy Benz	La Esperanza, Oaxaca, Mexico; June 1979   verso  Photo courtesy Benz
La Esperanza, Oaxaca, Mexico; August 1976 summer form  Leg:  Diaz	La Esperanza, Mexico  June 1976  female   Leg:  Diaz

   Discovered only recently (described in 1975), P esperanza is known only from relict cloud forest in NE Oaxaca, Mexico between 1500 and 2500 meters elevation, in areas with extremely heavy annual rainfall. May be common where found, but its habitat is rather inaccessible and is guarded by the Mexican government and locals; Protected by the government of Mexico as are many Mexican butterflies. May be a very old species (evolutionarily speaking) as its early stages share some characteristics with SE Asian Papilionidae in several different tribes.