Iphiclides Podalirius (redirected from Scarce Swallowtail)

Iphiclides Podalirius 

(also, Papilio podalirius) a diurnal butterfly of the family Papilionidae (swallowtails). The wing-spread is 68 to 72 mm. The wings are pale yellow, with seven black wedge-shaped stripes on each fore wing and a black-blue border on each hind wing. The hind wings with the tails reach 15 mm in length; the tips each have an eyespot. The Iphiclides podalirius are found in Europe, Asia, and North Africa. In the USSR they are found in the middle zone, somewhat south of the middle zone, and as far east as the Altai. The caterpillars are green, with slanting yellow stripes, which sharply narrow at the posterior end; they feed on leaves of cherry trees and other plants, predominantly of the family Rosaceae. The Iphiclides podalirius are not particularly harmful to young orchards.