Old World Swallowtail
The Old World swallowtail (or Papilio machaon) is a butterfly living in the temperate regions, woodlands and even tundras of Europe, Asia and North America.
It has pale yellow wings with grey-black patterning on the forewings, and blue-black accents as well as red eyespots on the hindwings. The hindwings also have an extended ‘tail’, for which they are named swallowtail. The caterpillar is plump and pale green with black and orange markings on each body segment. The chrysalises vary in colour from green to brown with lighter camouflage markings.
There is no sexual dimorphism in size and appearance in the Old World swallowtail, and its average wingspan is 6.5cm to 8.6cm.
Papilio machaon
Exhibit needs
- Exhibit types
- Walkthrough
- Terrain
- None
- Temperature
- 18–24 °C (variance 5 °C below, 5 °C above)
- Humidity
- 40–60% (variance 5 below, 5 above)
- Food
- Fruit and vegetables
- Litter
- 1–1
- Overpopulation at
- 8 (extreme 10)
- Colony up to
- 15
- Breeds in
- Summer
Overview
- Scientific name
- Papilio machaon
- Class
- Insecta
- Conservation status
- Least Concern
- Enclosure
- Large exhibit
- Temperature
- 18 °C – 24 °C
- Humidity
- 40% – 60%
- Lifespan
- 0.5 yr – 1 yr
- Content
- Base game