19th century illustrated engraving, ideal for a calming and scholarly atmosphere - Duponchel's Butterfly by Charles d'Orbigny

Engraving reproduction of: Duponchel's Butterfly (Papilio duponchelii, Lucas), Leg of the Flamed Butterfly (Papilio podalirius, Lin.), Thaïs de Cerisy (Thaïs cerisyi, God.), Parnassius Phoebus (Parnassius phœbus, Hubn.)

Illustration taken from the Universal Dictionary of Natural History, written under the direction of Charles Henry Dessalines d'Orbigny (1806-1876) and published from 1841 to 1849.

This work, considered one of the major achievements of the 19th century in terms of scientific synthesis and quality popularization, wonderfully illustrating the great beauty and impressive diversity of the biological world, was supplemented by a certain amount of scientific information, some extracts of which are reproduced below.

Important note: the scientific classification elements of the time have been preserved as they are and may of course be obsolete today.

Scientific classification and description of the species present in the engraving:

Class of Insects
Order Lepidoptera
Suborder Papilionea
Family Papilionidae
Fig. 1. Duponchel's butterfly (Papilio duponchelii, Lucas) Natural size.
a. Leg of the Flamed Butterfly (Papilio podalirius, Lin.)
• b. Leg of the same.
• c. Tarsus.
• d. Antenna.
• e. Base of the antenna.
• f. Antenna tip.
• g. Head seen in profile.
• h. Palp.
• k. Mandible.
• m. Caterpillar of the same species.
• n. Chrysalis.

Class of Insects
Order Lepidoptera
Suborder Papilionea
Family Papilionidae
Fig. 2. Thaïs de Cerisy (Thaïs cerisyi, God.) Natural size.
2 a. Its caterpillar.
• b. Its chrysalis.
Fig. 3. Parnassius Phoebus (Parnassius phœbus, Hubn.) Natural size.
3 a. Body of the Parnassius Apollo seen in profile.
• b. Its caterpillar.
• c. Its chrysalis.