Scarce Swallowtail (Iphiclides podalirius)
2009 photos highlighted in yellow. Click on any photo to go to an enlarged picture, or simply scroll down the page.
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| 7939_male_Isere_5Jul07 | 17051_female_Var_30Jun09 | 1133_male_Alpes Maritimes_28May06 |
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| 7983_male_Isere_5Jul07 | 15226_ovum_Var_20May09 |
This is a most majestic butterfly, huge and floating effortlessly. It is not, as its English name implies, scarce, and in my experience it is much more common than the Swallowtail (P. machaon). In the Dordogne in 2000 we stayed in a cottage with some lavender bushes about five metres from the front door and on one occasion we counted twelve podalirius nectaring, seemingly oblivious to the census that was taking place. In 2006 I saw at least 15 very fresh podalirius "puddling" (taking salts and moisture from wet earth), and when two machaon arrived to puddle at the same place they were driven away by the podalirius. An amazing sight.
7939: a male, taking salts. This shows the width of the enormous podalirius wings. Altitude 900m.
17051: a female, I believe. Altitude 920m.
1133: a male underside. A quick snap as the wings are constantly on the move. Altitude 330m.
7983: another quickly taken shot to catch the underside. A male. Altitude 900
15226: an ovum, on a leaf of Blackthorn (Prunus spinosa). Altitude 140m.
1133_male_Alpes Maritimes_28May06
