Swallowtail (Papilio machaon)
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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| 18156_male_Isere_12Jul09 | 7970_male_Isere_5Jul07 | 9476_sex?_Var_5Sep07 |
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| 14097_sex?_Var_2Sep08 | 15140_pair_Var_09May09 | 18317_male_Isere_13Jul09 |
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| 2712_male_Var_14Jul06 | 9343_sex?_Var_30Aug07 | 15588_ovum_Var_30May09 |
This huge and utterly magnificent butterfly is not uncommon in southern France, but rarely seen in numbers, and in fact I cannot remember seeing more than one or two at any one time. Because it is so large, it is almost unmissable. In the UK, where it is represented by the British subspecies, it is confined to a small area of the Norfolk Broads, but in France it is distributed over a wide variety of terrain including mountainous areas and its larval hostplant requirements are quite different. It is often quite hard to photograph as its wings are constantly moving even when it is nectaring, possibly because it is a (comparatively) heavy butterfly, and needs to keep the wingbeats high to assist buoyancy. I particularly like the "shower" of blue cells in the uph black band, reminiscent of a firework display or a comet.
The only butterfly it could be confused with is the inaptly-named Scarce Swallowtail (I. podalirius), or if you are very lucky, the very scarce (now this one is scarce) Southern Swallowtail (P. alexanor), which I regretfully have never seen, but I'm working on it.
18156: a male, puddling. Altitude 1120m.
7970: a male, taking salts. I rather like the three Southern Small Whites (Pieris mannii) which seem to be lined up and staying a respectful distance behind the "king". Altitude 900m.
9476: this shows the width and wing area of this magnificent butterfly. It's a pity that the right hand tail is missing, but this is probably an effective defence measure, as it was probably lost to a predator who thought it was attacking the vulnerable head end of the insect. Altitude 920m.
12699: a male, puddling for salts. One of the few occasions it stays still and open enough for a decent photo opportunity. Altitude 1120m.
14097: photographed on the move, as it was nectaring. Altitude 920m.
15140: a mating pair. The first time I have ever seen this, and quite probably the last. Altitude 340m.
18317: a male puddling in company with another Swallowtail and many other species. Altitude 1120m.
2712: this was acting in a very un-swallowtail-like way, to my eyes. It was circling around the bush, returning to the same perch (the top-most point on the bush, about 2.5m high) each time, as if guarding its territory. It did facilitate a shot of the underside, even if from a distance of about one metre (I have blown up the photo for detail). It was a fabulous fresh specimen, with very light and delicate markings, that may have just emerged. It was a privilege to be allowed to watch. Altitude 10m.
9343: this is rather more heavily marked than 2712, but probably more typical. I have no idea what sex it is, as the sexes seem to be identical. Altitude 60m.
15588: an ovum, laid on a plant that I don't think is Fennel (Foeniculum vulgare), the normal larval hostplant and quite common in Var. Machaon does have a wide variety of larval hostplants, and I think the plant in 15588 is probably related to Fennel. Any advice would be welcome. Altitude 200m.
