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Swallowtail – Favourite Photo of 2017

Week 18 – I was very hopeful last week that the end was in sight, well the Favourite Photo is getting there but the weather has reverted to winter so putting things back another week or two – still it will be worth the wait.

Please could I ask that everyone waits until a topic has been opened by me for a particular species before posting photos? Of course our overseas members are very welcome to fill in the obvious gaps relating to rare UK migrants. As like last year details of locations, dates, times and circumstances would be welcome as would any accompanying stories and anecdotes or other observations of behaviour and interesting other points.

Have a goodun

Wurzel

Swallowtails emerged early last year and this individual was recorded on the 22nd of May at Strumpshaw Fen.

It was flying in view for several minutes, pausing to perch on phragmites seed heads while investigating passing Brimstones but it was always a bit too high or too far away.

Fortunately it settled briefly on the bed of nettles by Lackford Run and I managed to get this photograph.

No ssp britannicus for me to present, but thankfully this species turns up in small numbers in both the French Pyrenees in late spring AND the Alps in high summer:

I visited Hickling on 4 June and by 9:30 there were plenty about, feeding mostly on campion and marsh thistle. The weight of a swallowtail landing on a campion flower was enough to make the plant bend and this was exacerbated by the wind and resulted in the swallowtail having to beat its wings for balance while feeding.
I returned on 28 July, and saw several lava, that looked like they were ready to pupate. I also saw a single adult flying over the reeds, a late first brood or possibly an early second brood.

My Swallowtails are from the south of France and so are Papilio machaon gorganus.
In public gardens near my work, buddleia is sufficient to attract them. 07 September: A caterpillar from urban Marseilles on 27 August.
Its host plant down here is Dill (Anethum graveolens), or in French, Aneth or Fenouil bâtard. Chris

these were taken on 30th August in a marshy spot near Preixan, Aude France.

Mine is also from Europe (Ischia) - didn't manage to get over to Strumpshaw this year, sadly .
Tony M.

Seeing those larval images reminded me that I have one of my own, from Força Réal, near Perpignan, last May:

This is a photo from a quite a few years ago, but not something I've seen since. How unusual it is, I don't know. Roger

Great shot, Roger, and no, I haven't ever seen a mating pair unfortunately.

The image reminds me a little of the cover shot on Tristan Lafranchis' La Vie des Papillons, only that one is of alexanor!!