Old World Swallowtail
Papilio machaon
A large yellow-and-black butterfly of flower-rich grasslands, marshes, dunes, gardens, and open countryside across Europe and Asia. Adults sip nectar with a long proboscis and spend much of their time patrolling, basking, or searching for mates and host plants. Its hindwings carry tail-like extensions and red-and-blue eyespots that can misdirect predators toward the wing edge. Strong, buoyant flight lets it travel widely between nectar sources and breeding sites.
- Type
- Wing
- Conservation status
- NE
Growth chain
- Old World Swallowtail Caterpillar
- Old World Swallowtail Chrysalis
- Old World Swallowtail