Scarce Swallowtail (Iphiclides podalirius) | Species | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
 Taken in the Vercors Natural Park, France, on July 23rd 2018. (1/1000th sec at f10. © David Hastings)  Taken at Kresna Gorge, Bulgaria, on July 22nd 2015. (1/1000th sec at f14. © David Hastings)  Egg. Taken in the Vercors Natural Park, France, on July 23rd 2018. (1/400th sec at f10. © David Hastings) DescriptionFamily: Papilionidae Wing span: 78 - 92mm This butterfly has unmistakable black 'tiger stripes' on its wings, and long tails on its hindwings. The sexes are similar. Widespread and locally common throughout central and southern Europe, but not present in Iberia, Sardinia or Cyprus. It is protected by law in several European countries. Typical habitats are field margins, parks and gardens, scrub, orchards and scattered light woodland up to 1500m. There are two generations per year, May/June and July/September. The larva is the over-wintering stage. Larvae feed on various rosaceous woody plants, eg Crategus, Prunus spinosa and cultivated Prunus species in orchards. The Scarce Swallowtail is a wanderer, and is occasionally recorded in northern Europe and the British Isles. Sightings
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