Pear-tree swallowtail

Iphiclides podalirius virgatus

A large tailed butterfly, one of the less common swallowtails, distinctly black and pale yellow with a wingspan of 60-100 mm, the females being usually larger. The pear-tree lives in many different places, such as farmland, meadows, roadsides, plains, pastures, and dry scrub. Host plants are mainly trees of the rose family (Rosaceae), like pear (Pyrus communis), almond (Prunus amygdalus), wild cherry (P. cerasus), peach (P. persica), blackthorn (P. spinosa), apple (Malus domesticus), and hawthorn (Crataegus monogyna). This butterfly flies March through October and is also called the “sail swallowtail” because it “sails” on the wind and hilltops during courtship.

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