Swallowtail

Papilio machaon Today, 3 October

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

now adults on the wing 10 days

adults on the wing Insect here all year

The whole year

19 July – 13 October

the coastal calendar, shifted 24 days later for this region

Sitting the year outGetting readyYoung aboutYoung leaving

Where to look

Fennel and wild carrot on terrace edges; males hilltop, circling the highest point around.

Worth knowing

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 — it is scent, and it works on wasps.

Look it up

photos, sightings and recordings, off this site

iNaturalist — photos and where people are seeing it Wikipedia — Papilio machaon

Regions

where this species is on the list

Dalmatian coastKvarner and IstriaVelebit and the DinaridesSlavonia and the Pannonian plainTukhlia, Ukrainian Carpathians

Phase by phase

dates as they fall in the region chosen above

Phase	When	Length	What it means
overwintering	14 October – 17 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	18 April – 3 May	16 days	Feeding, holding territory, doing nothing the calendar singles out.
on eggs	4 May – 18 May	15 days	Clutch laid and being incubated, or buried and left to the sun.
larvae feeding	19 May – 24 June	37 days	Caterpillars, grubs or nymphs feeding and growing.
in the pupa	25 June – 18 July	24 days	Rebuilt inside a chrysalis or cocoon; the animal cannot move or feed.
adults on the wing	19 July – 13 October	87 days	The new generation is out, winged and looking for a mate.

Other insects in this region

Buff-tailed bumblebeeCommon glow-wormEuropean hornetEuropean mantisGreat green bush-cricketHummingbird hawk-mothRose chaferScarce swallowtailStag beetleWestern honey bee

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