Swallowtail
Michael van der Zypen has taken over the sponsorship of this butterfly(Papilio zoroastres). Like our native swallowtail(Papilio machaon), the butterfly belongs to the Papilioninae subfamily.
Michael van der Zypen has taken over the sponsorship of this butterfly(Papilio zoroastres). Like our native swallowtail(Papilio machaon), the butterfly belongs to the subfamily Papilioninae.
The distinguishing feature of all species of Papilionidae is the osmaterium of the caterpillar, which is a fleshy fork on the neck that can be pushed out and emits an unpleasant odour to scare off predators.
The caterpillars feed on plants from the Rutaceae (citrus family) or Apiaceae (umbellifers) and form a free-hanging girdle pupa.