Swallowtail - Butterfly, referring to the order Lepidoptera, family sailboats.This rare species of butterflies (Papilio machaon) today listed as endangered.More recently Swallowtail was considered one of the most rasprostanenie butterflies in Europe, and today is on the verge of extinction.Total in the world fauna, there are about 550 species of this family.
Carl Linnaeus gave the name of this butterfly in honor of the physician Machaon - the hero of the Trojan War, who saved and alleviate the suffering of the Roman soldiers.Swallowtail Butterfly, photos of which can be seen not only in the encyclopedia, but also in the form of jewelry and souvenirs), considered one of the most beautiful butterflies in Europe.The bizarre shape of the wings, their original brightness and contrast, piercingly bright colors, expressed ornamentation, rapid flight in the manner of a bird - make this tie unique.
reason for the reduction is a kind of destruction of its habitat, as well as amateur catching.Traditional habitat - Palearctic region from Russia to Japan, too - Canada and Alaska, alpine plains of the Himalayas.Distributed in Europe, especially in the UK (in the marshes of East Anglia).It prefers open spaces.
swallowtail butterfly flying, depending on the place of residence at a height of 2 to 4.5 thousand meters.On average it makes 2-3 clutch a year umbrella plants (parsley, dill, cumin).
Caterpillars (green with red dots and transverse black stripes) appear in 7 days.They grow up to mid-summer and then become ponderous and clumsy, almost do not eat, attached upside down to the stems of the plant - and turn into a chrysalis green-brown color, which at this stage winters.Departure of the first generation occurs in May and June, the second - in August.
swallowtail butterfly flies in the meadows, forest edges, meadows and gardens.It is virtually tireless, rarely sits down for a long time, during meals often waving wings.It feeds on flowers, food plants for her serve parsley, fennel and other umbrella.
today meet this butterfly can be quite rare.Measures for the protection of the form (regulation of chemical treatments, the prohibition of collecting, preserving their habitats) are not accepted.
Swallowtail Butterfly fairly large (70-90 mm).Wings yellow curved shaped along the edge of the moon spots and black longitudinal stripe.The root area of the front wings is black with a yellow coating.The hind wings are black elongated "tail" yellow-blue spots.In the corners of the wings there are contrasting red-brown "eye".
Painting upper and lower sides of the wings seems a bit lighter look below.If the butterfly of the summer generation, that they are characterized by a pale coloring compared with spring.
ability to adapt to different conditions of existence is a testament to the broad ecological plasticity of the species.However, having a nearly perfect survival mechanism, swallowtail butterfly does not stand anthropogenic impacts on the environment of its habitat, which create for her a really extreme situation.
