Projecting the distribution range of the chestnut tiger butterfly Parantica sita sita (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae: Danainae) in southwestern China

The chestnut tiger butterfly Parantica sita sita (Kollar) (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae: Danainae) is a potential model to study the mechanisms underlying long-distance migrations in insects. However, few studies have investigated this subspecies. This study predicts the distribution of P. s. sita using a species distribution model (Maxent), and analyzes the key influencing factors using ecological niche factor analysis. Based on 104 occurrence sites, the suitable area of P. s. sita was projected to be most area of Yunnan, the southern foothills of the Himalayas in Tibet, west Guizhou, central Sichuan, the central and northern parts of Chongqing, and the southern boundary of Shaanxi and Gansu. Among examined environmental factors the isothermality and temperature seasonality proved to be most important. Furthermore, the distribution range during warm season was identical to that for the whole year, whereas the distribution range during cold season was projected as the southern part of Yunnan only. In addition to the climatic differences between the north and south of China, the projected seasonal migration of P. s. sita might explain the shift of its distribution range during different seasons. This study also provides essential information for further ecological research on P. s. sita .