Apollo butterfly
Image: zeeshan.shan41@yahoo… (CC BY-SA 3.0)
Common NameApollo butterfly
Scientific NameParnassius apollo
FamilyPapilionidae
SubfamilyParnassiinae
Wingspan (mm)75
Wing Patternspotted
Primary Colorspale yellow, black, red
HabitatMountainous regions, subalpine meadows, rocky slopes, open grasslands
Geographic RangeEurope (especially central and southern), parts of Asia (Siberia, Central Asia)
Host PlantsSedum album, Sedum telephium, Sempervivum tectorum
Flight PeriodJune to August
Flight Stylegliding
Conservation Statusnear-threatened
Lifecycle NotesOverwinters as a fully developed larva inside the egg. Larvae hatch in spring, feed on stonecrops, and pupate on the ground among detritus.
Identification TipsLook for its large size, pale wings with black spots and prominent red-ringed ocelli on the hindwings. Its flight is typically slow and deliberate, often close to the ground in rocky, mountainous habitats.
Description
A large and striking butterfly with creamy white to pale yellow wings, often with a greenish tint, adorned with prominent black spots and distinctive red-ringed black ocelli on the hindwings.
