Swallowtail Butterflies at Camping Chez Rambaud

Geographic Range

This species of butterfly, Papilio machaon, is found primarily in Europe and Asia, but populations are becoming more scarce and confined. Other regions where Papilio machaon can be found include Canada, Alaska, and California.

Habitat

Old World swallowtails live in varying habitats that span the world. In a variety of elevations, they find homes in grasslands, hilltops, tundras, forests, mountains, and other temperate areas. Some are even found in subarctic and Arctic areas of the globe.

Physical Description

Wingspan:- 5.50 to 8.80 cm (2.17 to 3.46 in)

Papilio machaon has a striking coloration of black on top of a yellow base color. There are blue and red spots on the hind wings. A mutation or variation on swallowtails' natural color is the occasional butterfly that displays melanism, a black coloration on the wings, rather than yellow. They are fairly large butterflies compared to most others. Old World swallowtails have two overlapping wings, which create a wing span anywhere from 5.5 - 8 cm in length. Some females even have a fore-wing span that reaches beyond 8.8 cm.

Development

Like all butterflies, Old World swallowtails undergo metamorphosis. In 8 to 10 days the eggs hatch into the larvae. The larval stage lasts for about 6 - 7 weeks, after which the pupal stage begins. Pupation usually occurs in August. This stage is the longest (and most variable) of the butterfly's life cycle lasting anywhere between 2 to 24 weeks. The adult stage is very short, often lasting only a few weeks. After breeding, the butterfly will die and the cycle begins again.

Reproduction

Breeding Season:- May - July

Adult swallowtails display hilltopping behavior and use this to identify potential mates. Following mating, females lay their spherically-shaped yellow eggs singly on the milk parsley. The breeding season is sometime in May through July.

Behavior

The flight of Old World swallowtails is characterized by the strong flapping of their wings during the months of May and June. The butterflies of the north have one flight sometime in May through July while those of the south have two flights.

Food Habits

In its caterpillar stage, Papilio machaon derives nourishment from its birth place on the milk parsley grown in parts of Europe, or among other various plants, preferrably those of the parsley family. These young caterpillars tend to eat the leaves of their host plant. Once these caterpillars have grown some, they prefer to eat the flowers on these plants. Adult butterflies feed on the nectar of these flowers.