Scarce Swallowtail

Segelfalter

The Scarce Swallowtail ( Iphiclides podalirius ) is a butterfly of the family of Swallowtail Butterfly ( Papilionidae ).

  • 6.1 Notes and references
  • 6.2 Literature

Description

The Segelfalter regarded as one of Europe's most beautiful butterflies. Iphiclides podalirius has a wingspan of 60 to 80 millimeters, and is up to 45 millimeters long. The females are almost always slightly larger than the males. The Segelfalter differs from the dovetail among others by its much longer black rear wing extensions with bright ends. The ground color of the wings is pale yellow or light and has six black stripes on each of the front wings. A black stripe is on the hind wings respectively in the Diskalregion and on the inner edge. From Analwinkel toward the apex are three blue ocelli in a black band. Against the blue eye spot on the inner edge sits an orange crescent spot. The second generation in summer is lighter than the first generation in the spring. They are slightly different and can be distinguished by the following features:

Description of track

The green assel shaped beads have thin yellow side stripes and are up to 40 millimeters long.

Similar Species

  • Iphiclides feisthamelii
  • Southern Swallowtail ( Papilio alexanor )

Flight time

In Central Europe and in the mountains usually occurs on only one generation per year, the butterflies fly Then from May to July. In particularly climate favored areas such as the Rhine and Moselle but there are two generations ago (May-June, July-August). In the northern Mediterranean area two to three generations per year develop. Further south, it can be up to four generations and the butterfly will fly from early March to late October.

Way of life

The female moths lay the eggs on the food plants of the caterpillars. The caterpillars feed on leaves of fruit-bearing trees such as hawthorn (Crataegus spp.), Blackthorn (Prunus spinosa) or bird cherry (Prunus mahaleb ). In the Mediterranean, they also eat in apricot (Prunus armeniaca ), peach (Prunus persica ), almond tree (Prunus dulcis ). You can evaginate at threat, as all the caterpillars of the swallowtail butterfly, a neck fork ( Osmaterium ) to drive predators. Mostly eat the caterpillar from the leaf edge to the midrib, which is often left behind, and in small-leafed shrubs from one branch of. The caterpillars of the moth sailing pupate in a belt doll on a branch. The last generation of the year overwinters as a pupa.

The butterfly can taking advantage of thermals for several minutes without flapping sail through the air, hence its name. He shows how the dovetail, a strong Gipfelbalz behavior ( hilltopping ).

Dissemination

The Scarce Swallowtail is distributed from Europe to the west beginning in France, including the Mediterranean islands over the non- tropical Asia to China. The northern distribution extends up to the 54th degree of latitude, but occasionally he wanders into the British Isles and Fennoscandia by one.

Endangering

The Segelfalter has suffered strong losses of territory in recent decades. For many regions of Germany, he is gone. In Austria, many populations are extinct, the species can be regarded as a sensitive bioindicator.

  • Red Lists (0 = extinct, 1 = critically endangered, 2 = high risk, 3 = at risk, 4 = near threatened, = safely ) Austria: 2 Carinthia: 2
  • Lower Austria:
  • Upper Austria: 4
  • Salzburg: 1
  • Styria: 2
  • Tirol: 3
  • Vorarlberg: 0
  • Vienna: 3

Swell

Genus Osmeterium Hill-topping (biology)
416406
de