Photo Arne Ader
Translation Liis
Swallowtail Pääsusaba Papilio machaon
Truly one of our most beautiful day-flying butterflies. Large and eye-catching, the swallowtail is easily recognizable – its wing span is up to 8 ½ centimetres. On the hind wings we note the ”tails”, characteristic for swallowtails. However, we leave a detailed description of the butterfly to our readers – it isn’t difficult, try doing it!.
The swallowtail is often encountered in fresh open areas but good locations are also forest clearings. They have never been particularly numerous. The first generation was seen on the north-western coast already a week ago (it is quite early) and we can meet them until the end of June.. The swallowtails are skilful and fast flyers that can rise very high up. Occasions when these master flyers have strayed into cities are not rare.
On feeding swallowtails calmly stay sucking nectar from a flower and happily let themselves be observed and photographed.
In case of a cold summer we may not see a second generation; this will become clear in August.
