Iphiclides podalirius (Scarce Swallowtail, Segelfalter, Le Flambé)

Iphiclides podalirius, also called Scarce Swallowtail or Segelfalter is a very impressive butterfly from Palaearctic ecozone (Europe). The first description was in 1758 by Linnaeus. With a wingspan of 6.5 – 8.0 cm the Scarce Swallowtail is one of the largest butterflies from Europe. It is a member of the family PAPILIONIDAE. The butterfly is white or yellowish with typical black tiger-bands. Hind wings have very long tails.

Photos for easy identification

: Photo © by Thomas Neubauer; 30.07.2006, Botanic Garden, Vienna

: hoto © by Thomas Neubauer; 30.07.2006, Vienna

: Photo © by Thomas Neubauer; 30.07.2006, Botanic Garden, Vienna

: Photo © by Thomas Neubauer; 30.07.2006, Botanic Garden, Vienna

: Photo © by Thomas Neubauer; 25.06.2007, Donauinsel, Wien

: Photo © by Thomas Neubauer; 25.06.2007, Donauinsel, Wien

These are nice photos of Iphiclides podalirius (Scarce Swallowtail, Segelfalter, Le Flambé). Iphiclides podalirius is a member of the family PAPILIONIDAE from Palaearctic (Europe).

Description

The forewings are white or yellowish and have a black margin. Nearby the body is a little black area. Between these opposites there are five tiger-strips. The long strip in the middle has a light-coloured core.
The underside is a copy of upside, but there are some differences. The black band on the margin is a fine strip there. The next tiger-strip is filled out white or yellowish. The long strip in the middle has a clear light-coloured core there.

The hind wings are white or yellowish and have very long tails in black with yellow tops. The margin is ridged. There is a dark powdered area going backwards with some big blue spots. There is only one black tiger-strip upside, but some other tiger-strips show through the wing. In back there is a blue eye with an orange eyeshadow. There is a dark zone around the body.
The underside has more strips in black, but one of them is in orange. The blue spots and the eye are also there.

The body is yellowish with two fine strips on the side, but the upside is black.

Sex differences: None

Distribution

The Scarce Swallowtail (Iphiclides podalirius) is a common butterfly of the Palaearctic ecozone (Europe and Asia) without the North of Africa.

: This world map shows the ecozones in which this butterfly is distributed.

Flight period

In the North one brood from May-July and in the South two broods from May-August. You can see Scarce Swallowtail until September.

Larval food

Cherry, Blackthorn, Whitethorn, Peach, Almond

: Photo © by Thomas Neubauer, 28.04.2007

General information

The first description of this butterfly was in 1758 by Linnaeus. There is only one subspecies.

Iphiclides podalirius persica [Verity, 1911]

There is a very similar relative of Scarce Swallowtail in Spain and in the North of Africa.
Iphiclides feisthamelii 1832 Duponchel

The caterpillar is green and the pupa has a silken girdl. In summer the pupa is green. The overwintering pupa is brown. This species overwinters as pupa.

: Photo © by Thomas Neubauer, 28.04.2007

Here you can see a egg of Iphiclides podalirius (Scarce Swallowtail, Segelfalter, Le Flambé).

Protection provisions / Red List

CITES: (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora):

-no entry- (as at 23.06.2005)
EU regulation on trading with species of wild Fauna and Flora

-no entry- (as at 19.08.2005)
IUCN Red List of threatened species:

-no entry- (as at 2004) (see: www.redlist.org/)
Red List of endangered species of Austria:

-highly endangered- (category 2)- (see: www.roteliste.at/)
Regulation of the Viennese regional government:

-strictly protected- (see: www.wien.gv.at/recht/landesrecht-wien/rechtsvorschriften/html/l4800200.htm)