30 September β 3 April
the coastal calendar, shifted 10 days later for this region
Fennel and wild carrot on terrace edges; males hilltop, circling the highest point around.
Two generations here, three in a hot year, so adults are on the wing from late March to September with two clear peaks. The caterpillar's orange forked horn is not a threat display for you β it is scent, and it works on wasps.
photos, sightings and recordings, off this site
where this species is on the list
| Phase | When | Length | What it means |
|---|---|---|---|
| overwintering | 30 September β 3 April | 186 days | The species passes winter as an egg, larva or pupa; no adult is on the wing. Winter is spent as a chrysalis fixed to a dry stem, often on the plant the caterpillar ate. |
| going about the year | 4 April β 19 April | 16 days | Feeding, holding territory, doing nothing the calendar singles out. |
| on eggs | 20 April β 4 May | 15 days | Clutch laid and being incubated, or buried and left to the sun. |
| larvae feeding | 5 May β 10 June | 37 days | Caterpillars, grubs or nymphs feeding and growing. |
| in the pupa | 11 June β 4 July | 24 days | Rebuilt inside a chrysalis or cocoon; the animal cannot move or feed. |
| adults on the wing | 5 July β 29 September | 87 days | The new generation is out, winged and looking for a mate. |