Article in today's Times that a Scarce Swallowtail has been flying around accidentally, it's chrysalis imported on a Yew Tree!
Not too sure it counts as a British spot, so it must be an "Exotic". .....but just curious, has this species been spotted in the UK before as a proper spot? I mean arrived here under it's own steam?
Danny
Scarce Swallowtail - Chelsea Flower show
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Dave McCormick
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A few specimens of the Scarce Swallowtail have been reported from central Sweden and the UK but they were probably only strays and not migrants. The scarcity of UK migrants is responsible for the English common name.
Its a rare migrant to UK I believe, soit could be "exotic"
Its a rare migrant to UK I believe, soit could be "exotic"
Cheers all,
My Website: My new website: http://daveslepidoptera.com/ - Last Update: 11/10/2011
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My Website: My new website: http://daveslepidoptera.com/ - Last Update: 11/10/2011
My Nature videos: http://www.youtube.com/user/DynamixWarePro
Michael Salmon's book The Aurelian Legacy briefly discusses the status of the Scarce Swallowtail, which was held by some early entomologists to be a native British species. It turns up occasionally, and even established a breeding colony for a short while in Shropshire around 1820, but it has not been clear whether the butterflies concerned were accidental imports, escapes from captivity or genuine immigrants.
The Scarce Swallowtail is spreading north in France at present, and an increased number of sightings here in future years would not be a surprise.
The Scarce Swallowtail is spreading north in France at present, and an increased number of sightings here in future years would not be a surprise.
