Swallowtail is a butterfly belonging to the order Lepidoptera, the family of sailboats. This rare species of butterflies (Papilio machaon) is now listed in the Red Book. More recently, the swallowtail was considered one of the most common butterflies in Europe, and today it is on the verge of extinction. In total, there are about 550 species of this family in the world fauna.
Carl Linnaeus named this butterfly in honor of the doctor Machaon - the hero of the Trojan War, who saved and alleviated the suffering of Roman soldiers. The swallowtail butterfly, whose photo can be seen not only in the encyclopedia, but also in the form of jewelry and souvenirs), is considered one of the most beautiful butterflies in Europe. The bizarre shape of the wings, their original contrast and brightness, piercingly bright colors, pronounced ornamentation, swift flight in the manner of a bird - make this butterfly unique.
The reason for the decline of the species is the destruction of its habitats, as well as amateur trapping. The traditional habitat is the Palearctic region from Russia to Japan, also Canada and Alaska, the alpine plains of the Himalayas. Distributed in Europe, especially in Great Britain (in the swamps of EasternEngland). Prefers open spaces.
The swallowtail butterfly flies, depending on the place of residence, at an altitude of 2 to 4.5 thousand meters. On average, it makes 2-3 clutches per year on umbrella plants (parsley, dill, cumin).
Caterpillars (green with red dots and transverse black stripes) appear after 7 days. They grow until mid-summer, then become heavy and clumsy, hardly eat, attach head down to the stem of the plant - and turn into a green-brown chrysalis, which hibernates at this stage. The first generation takes off in May-June, the second - in August.
The swallowtail butterfly flies in clearings, edges, meadows and gardens. It is practically indefatigable, rarely sits down for a long time, while feeding it often flaps its wings. It feeds on flowers, parsley, fennel and other umbrella plants serve as fodder plants for it.
Today you can meet such a butterfly quite rarely. Measures to protect the species (regulation of chemical treatments, prohibition of collection, conservation of their habitats) are not accepted.
The swallowtail butterfly is quite large (70-90 millimeters). The wings are yellow, with moon-shaped spots along the edge and a black longitudinal stripe. The root region of the forewings is black with a yellow coating. The hind wings have an elongated black "tail" with yellow-blue spots. In the corners of the wings there is a contrasting red-brown "eye".
The coloration of the upper and lower sides of the wings is similar, slightly lighter underneath. If abutterflies from the summer generation, they are characterized by a paler color compared to spring.
The ability to adapt to different conditions of existence is evidence of the wide ecological plasticity of the species. However, possessing an almost perfect survival mechanism, the swallowtail butterfly cannot withstand anthropogenic impacts on its habitat, which create a truly extreme environment for it.
