Scarce swallowtail
The Most Elegant Flight ![🦋](https://static.xx.fbcdn.net/images/emoji.php/v9/tbb/1/16/1f98b.png)
![🌸](https://static.xx.fbcdn.net/images/emoji.php/v9/tf0/1/16/1f338.png)
![🦋](https://static.xx.fbcdn.net/images/emoji.php/v9/tbb/1/16/1f98b.png)
![🌸](https://static.xx.fbcdn.net/images/emoji.php/v9/tf0/1/16/1f338.png)
The Scarce swallowtail (Iphiclides podalirius, Papilionidae family) is a beautiful butterfly, large and striking, with a distinctive and delicate flight. The background color is a pale yellow, with six thin black bands in a V shape.
The Scarce swallowtail is very common and widespread, even in orchards
and gardens. It is associated with mild climates and is rarely observed in Northern Europe.
![🌳](https://static.xx.fbcdn.net/images/emoji.php/v9/t6b/1/16/1f333.png)
The caterpillar
primarily develops on Rosaceae plants, such as peach, apricot, blackthorn, etc.
![🐛](https://static.xx.fbcdn.net/images/emoji.php/v9/t1d/1/16/1f41b.png)
Adult butterflies feed on nectar ![🦋](https://static.xx.fbcdn.net/images/emoji.php/v9/tbb/1/16/1f98b.png)
![🌸](https://static.xx.fbcdn.net/images/emoji.php/v9/tf0/1/16/1f338.png)
, playing an important role as pollinators.
![🦋](https://static.xx.fbcdn.net/images/emoji.php/v9/tbb/1/16/1f98b.png)
![🌸](https://static.xx.fbcdn.net/images/emoji.php/v9/tf0/1/16/1f338.png)
![🌼](https://static.xx.fbcdn.net/images/emoji.php/v9/t9b/1/16/1f33c.png)
![⁉️](https://static.xx.fbcdn.net/images/emoji.php/v9/tec/1/16/2049.png)
![😲](https://static.xx.fbcdn.net/images/emoji.php/v9/tad/1/16/1f632.png)
The colorful spots on the hindwing and the two long tails mimic the head of an insect, deceiving predators into attacking the butterfly from the wrong side
. It’s an effective defensive strategy!
![😱](https://static.xx.fbcdn.net/images/emoji.php/v9/t2c/1/16/1f631.png)
#LIFEprogramme #LIFEproject #EUpollinators #Natura2000
#iphiclidespodalirius #swallowtail #pollinators #bees #butterlies
Photo Pixabay
![368675457_620636996826550_226436198159434291_n](https://mizar.unive.it/lifepollinaction.eu/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/368675457_620636996826550_226436198159434291_n.jpg)