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Papilio machaon
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| [Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note |
Papilio machaon / Swallowtail / Schwalbenschwanz / Koninginnepage / Le machaon.
Description:
This striking butterfly is yellow with black wing and vein markings and a wingspan of 8 to 10 cms. The hind wings of both sexes have a pair of protruding tails which give the butterfly its common name. Just below each tail is a red eye spot.
Distribution
The Swallowtail is present throughout the entire Palearctic region through Russia to China and Japan (including the Himalayas and Taiwan) and across into Alaska and Canada. In Asia it is reported as far South as certain oases in Saudi Arabia and Oman and the high mountains of Yemen.
In South Asia it occurs in Pakistan (Baluchistan, NorthWeste Frontier Province, Chitral), Northern India (Jammu and Kashmir to Sikkim, Assam and Arunachal Pradesh) Nepal, Bhutan and northern Myanmar.
This butterfly is widespread in Europe but is limited to a few areas in the Norfolk Broads of East Anglia in the United Kingdom where it is the UK's largest resident butterfly (the Monarch Danaus plexippus being slightly larger but only a rare vagrant).
Status
Often common and not threatened as a species.
Not Rare in India.
It is listed as 'Vulnerable' in South Korea and the Austrian Red Data Book, and, also in the Red Data Book of the erstwhile Soviet Union.
The Swallowtail is protected by law in the following countries :
-Papilio machaon machaon is protected by law in six provinces of Austria, Czechoslovakia and Hungary.
-UK (subspp brittanicus occurs in the UK but the law covers all subspecies).
-India (subspp verityi).
Habitat:
At lower elevations these butterflies fly from March to September. At higher elevations the butterflies are limited by the short summer seasons.
The brittanicus subspecies of Papilio machaon is less mobile than its European continental counterpart and stays within or close by it's fenland habitat.
Life cycle and foodplants
There are usually two to three broods in a year, but in northern areas the species may be single-brooded. In some places like the UK some will pupate and emerge in the same year and others will overwinter as pupae before emerging the following year a situation known as being partially double brooded.
Females lay eggs singly on plants of the umbeliferae family.
The Swallowtail caterpillar spends the first part of its life with the appearance of a bird dropping, an effective defence against predators. As the caterpillar grows larger it becomes green with black and orange markings. The caterpillar still has a defence against predators in the form of an organ called an osmeterium which consists of retractable, fleshy projections behind its head that can release a foul smell.
Foodplants
Plants of family Umbelliferae.
Source:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Old_World_Swallowtail
Harm |
tomcezar, Maite, phlr has marked this note useful
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Superb Swallowtail, good details. The had and antens are anclaire, aut of focus and maybe a little more contrast. Good photo. Best regards, Cezar T.
- Maite
![Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1007 W: 64 N: 1266]](http://i1.treknature.com/misc/g-g-g.gif)
(5195) - [2007-02-01 15:19]
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Hello Harm
Lovely and beautiful picture!
Good note
TFS
Maite
![Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 195 W: 0 N: 258]](http://i1.treknature.com/misc/g-n-g.gif)
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