# Scarce Swallowtail (Iphiclides podalirius) - Web page: https://www.funwildfacts.com/europa/insect/scarce-swallowtail - Published: 2026-05-30 - Last updated: 2026-05-30 ## Overview The Scarce Swallowtail (Iphiclides podalirius) is one of Europe's most elegant and easily recognizable butterflies. With its characteristic long tails on the hindwings and striking pattern of black stripes against a pale yellow or whitish background, it is impossible to mistake. The wingspan reaches an impressive 65-80 millimeters, making it one of the larger butterflies in its range. The scientific name podalirius refers to the physician Podalirius from Greek mythology, one of Asclepius's sons, while the genus name Iphiclides comes from the Greek hero Iphicles. This magnificent butterfly belongs to the family Papilionidae (swallowtails), known for their majestic flying representatives often featuring elongated hindwings. The Scarce Swallowtail displays six narrow black longitudinal bands across its wings, with the outer bands being broader and more pronounced. The hindwings are adorned with blue and orange-red spots near the tail tips, creating a warning appearance that can deter predators. The characteristic gliding flight pattern – where the butterfly sails with slow, graceful wingbeats – has inspired its sailing-related names in several languages. The Scarce Swallowtail undergoes complete metamorphosis (holometabolous development) during its life cycle. The caterpillar is green with yellow stripes and orange spots, perfectly camouflaged among tree leaves. When threatened, the larva can extend an orange, fork-shaped gland (osmeterium) from behind its head that secretes a foul-smelling liquid to deter enemies. The chrysalis is green or brown depending on the season and overwinters attached to branches or trunks. The species is primarily distributed across southern and central Europe, with populations extending eastward to Central Asia and China. In the northern part of its range, the Scarce Swallowtail is rare and considered red-listed in several countries. It prefers warm, sunny environments such as slopes, cultivated landscapes, gardens, and lightly wooded areas up to approximately 2000 meters elevation. Climate change has enabled the species to slowly expand northward in Europe over recent decades. ## Quick facts - Weight: 0.3–0.5 g - Length: 3.2–4 cm - Wingspan: 6.5–8 cm - Top Speed: 20 km/h - Lifespan: 0.082–0.164 yrs - Diet: Herbivore - Conservation Status: Least Concern ## Habitat The Scarce Swallowtail thrives in warm, sunny environments with open landscapes and scattered tree vegetation. It prefers slopes, sun-exposed hillsides, orchards, gardens, and light deciduous woodland edges where its host plants grow abundantly. The species is particularly common in cultural landscapes where blackthorn, hawthorn, and cultivated fruit trees are available. It can be found from lowlands up to mountainous areas at approximately 1800-2000 meters elevation, especially in southern Europe. Host plants for the caterpillars include primarily various rosaceous plants, particularly blackthorn (Prunus spinosa), hawthorn (Crataegus species), and cultivated fruit trees such as cherry, plum, apricot, and peach. In eastern parts of the range, caterpillars also use birch and ash. Adult butterflies visit a wide variety of flowers for nectar, including thistles, lavender, honeysuckle, and various composite flowers. They particularly favor purple and red blooms and are often seen drinking nectar with wings in constant motion. - Woodland - Grassland - Farmland - Garden - Heathland - Mountain ## Seasonal Behavior In southern Europe, the Scarce Swallowtail is active from April to September with two distinct generations per year. The first generation flies from April to June, while the second generation is active from July to September. In colder northern areas, typically only one generation occurs, flying during early summer. The species overwinters as a chrysalis attached to branches or trunks, where it remains motionless throughout the winter months. In spring, the first butterflies emerge when temperatures rise above 15 degrees Celsius. Caterpillars from the first generation can be observed from May to July, while caterpillars from the second generation develop from August to September before transforming into overwintering pupae. ## Breeding - Incubation: 8 days - Offspring: 50–150 ## Behavior & Ecology - Activity Pattern: Diurnal - Social Behavior: The Scarce Swallowtail is largely solitary, though multiple individuals may be seen together at flowering plants. Males are highly territorial and actively defend their areas from prominent high-point perches. - Migration: Resident - Population: Stable in southern Europe, declining in northern range ## Did you know? - The Scarce Swallowtail can fly at speeds up to 20 kilometers per hour and is renowned for its elegant gliding flight pattern reminiscent of a sailplane. - The caterpillars primarily feed on leaves of blackthorn, hawthorn, and various fruit trees like cherry, plum, and apricot, making them potential orchard pests. - The butterfly's gliding behavior inspired its various common names, as it sails through the air with long, graceful wingbeats resembling a sailing vessel's movement. - The orange forked gland (osmeterium) that the caterpillar can extend smells like butter or cheese and contains chemical compounds that repel ants and other predators. - The Scarce Swallowtail typically produces two generations per year in southern Europe – one in spring and one in late summer – while having only one generation in colder climates. - Males are highly territorial and actively patrol their areas, often from high vantage points on hilltops where they can scout for females and rival males. - The butterfly can live up to six weeks as an adult, which is unusually long for a butterfly and gives it ample time to reproduce. - Despite its name 'scarce swallowtail,' the species is actually quite common in southern Europe, but the name derives from its rarity in the northern part of its range, including Britain. ## Taxonomy - Kingdom: Animalia - Class: Insecta - Order: Lepidoptera - Family: Papilionidae - Species: Iphiclides podalirius ## Image - URL: https://images.djurfakta.com/animals/seglarfjaril/1777710098841-1.jpg - Photo: Tbc - License: Public domain ## Other languages - sv: https://www.djurfakta.com/europa/insect/seglarfjaril - da: https://www.dyrefakta.com/da/europa/insect/sejlsommerfugl - no: https://www.dyrefakta.com/europa/insect/seilsommerfugl