Early Damage

J18_1846 Iphiclides feisthameliiJust to keep the nature blog up to date, after a pleasantly lazy lunch with a couple of our neighbours, we returned to find our first Southern Scarce Swallowtail (Iphiclides feisthamelii) of the new season flitting about the Red Valerian behind Casa Libélule. My initial excitement was slightly dampened when I saw that it was missing one of its tails, but it’s a striking creature and always nice to see. My guess is that this damage is probably the result of a bird strike.

J18_1835 Iphiclides feisthameliiEarly specimens have a better chance of being in good nick. Sadly not this one. It looks better in profile, though.

Posted in 2017-2018 Winter

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