Parnassius apollo
WINGSPAN 7 to 8.5cm (2¾ to 3¼in)
HABITAT Hills, alpine meadows, mountainous regions
DISTRIBUTION Spain, France, Italy, Alps, Carpathians, southern Germany, the Balkans, southern Scandinavia (except Denmark), southern Poland and Slovakia
LIFESPAN 2 to 3 weeks
MALES AND FEMALES Male has a yellow-orange line of markings on the upperwing; female has patches of orange
A voracious feeder, this butterfly can often be approached when it’s feasting on nectar. Rather than land gracefully, it often crashes into flower heads in its eagerness for nourishment. With stunning colouration and glossy wings, the reddish spots in adults tend to fade in the sun, turning a burnt-orange shade, which makes it easy to distinguish older butterflies. Males are often more active, traversing the slopes while females conserve energy and prefer to settle on the ground, on thistles or stones.