Common Swallowtail Papilio Machaon wingspan 60mm-93cm
Season Early April-October
This beautiful large butterfly with vivid yellow and black markings, is a powerful fast flyer which can cover several kilometres without pause.
Can be found throughout Europe but generally uncommon. Very rare in Britain (confined to the wetlands in Eastern England) and Denmark. Often has two broods from Late May to July, second brood from August to September.
Males can often be found visiting mountain tops or high hills, where they will gather in numbers.
Habitation. Can be very diverse, preferring dry habitats around cultivated land in the Mediterranean. Flower-rich meadows, rough and waste areas, urban gardens; further north can be found in damp meadows, parks, Fens and mires, also fell summits in the far north.
The caterpillars of various swallowtail species feed on a wide range of different plants.
Swallowtail images below show taking nectarine from the flowers of Lantana and Yellow Ragwort.