Apollo
Parnassius apollo
The black-ringed red eyespots with white centres on the hindwings make the Apollo unmistakable. After mating, the female carries a plug on her abdomen formed by the male, the sphragis, which prevents further matings.
- Group
- Swallowtails
- Photos
- 4
- Taken
- 2024
Profile: Apollo
- Family
- Swallowtails (Papilionidae)
- Wingspan
- approx. 60–88 mm
- Habitat
- Sunny limestone scree, boulder fields and rocky slopes in high and lower mountain ranges, occasionally dry grassland with stonecrop; in Germany only at a few relict sites such as the lower Moselle valley.
- Diet
- The caterpillars feed on stonecrops, in Central Europe mainly white stonecrop; adults prefer to take nectar from thistles and knapweeds.
- When to see
- One generation; flight period from about late May to late August. An individual butterfly lives only two to three weeks – the long flight season results from pupal periods of very different length.
Learn more: Wikipedia