Page 1 of 1

Swallowtail chrysalis?

Posted: Thu Oct 27, 2022 1:10 pm
by LauraG
I have just had a rather lovely trip to Thorpeness and Aldeburgh in Suffolk where the weather has been mild and sunny at times. Myself and the kids took a liitle walk along the seafront to the Martello tower. On the way back, the youngest jumped onto the beach and scrambled back up the sea wall. We spotted this unusually placed pupa on the mortar. I gave it the old Google lens and it kept suggesting swallowtail. I hadn't realised how scarce these had become because I remember seeing them very infrequently as a child. I've not found any convincing matching chrysalis images but I wondered if someone could enlighten me. Looked like wild carrot growing the otherside of the track. What do you think?

Re: Swallowtail chrysalis?

Posted: Thu Oct 27, 2022 1:23 pm
by Vince Massimo
Hi Laura and welcome to UK Butterflies.

Sorry to disappoint, but that is one of our native whites, most likely Large White https://ukbutterflies.co.uk/album.php?id=512
The other less likely possibility is Small White https://ukbutterflies.co.uk/album.php?id=814
At this late stage of the season, both species will over-winter in this form until next Spring.

Vince

Re: Swallowtail chrysalis?

Posted: Fri Oct 28, 2022 8:22 pm
by LauraG
Oh brilliant! :lol: I knew I could rely on instant expert knowledge. Not a disappointment. We saw them flying on the beach so there you go.