Butterfly podalirium: a rare and wonderful guest of gardens and parks

The family of sailboats combined medium and large butterflies in the most beautiful and original colors. The brightest palette is presented in the tropics. The wing pattern of insects living in temperate latitudes consists of black bandages on a light background, as well as red and blue spots. Sailboats or gentlemen are active during the day. Butterfly podalirium is a typical representative of the family. She lives in meadows, gardens, on the edges of deciduous forests. Outwardly resembles a swallowtail. Destruction of natural places of settlement of podalirium led to a reduction in the number of species. The butterfly is listed in the Red Book and is under protection.

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Butterfly podalirium (Iphiclidenspodalirius) is a representative of the family of sailboats or gentlemen. Wingspan 68-75 mm. The main color is light yellow and cream. Fore wing pattern - 3 long and 2 short wedge-shaped bands of black color, dark border around the edge. Arched spots of blue color are located on the outer edge of the hind wing. A small peephole with a blue center, black and red bordering. Sailboats are often called tail bearers due to special outgrowths on the hind wings. The photo shows that the podaliria butterfly has long dark tails (up to 15 mm) with a light peak. The color of the inner side of the wings does not differ from the outer.

The coloring of the second generation is several tones lighter. In spring butterflies, a yellow stripe runs along the edge of the wings; in individuals born in the summer, it is absent. The head of insects is rounded, eyes are large, facet type, club antennae. Antennas are sensory organs and help maintain balance during flight. The forehead is very pubescent. The front wings are triangular in shape, reach 42 mm along the wide edge, the hind wings are oval.

A characteristic feature of the family is the notch separating the wing from the abdomen. Legs are walking, well developed. Butterflies have a proboscis, through which nectar is fed. In normal condition, it is bent. The sucking mouth is formed from an elongated lower jaw. The long narrow abdomen consists of 9-10 segments.

Interesting fact. Butterflies are most attracted to lilac, yellow and red.

Subspecies

Podalirium, living in different regions, has slight differences in the color and parameters of the wings:

• Iphiclidenspodaliriusf. inalpina - a form that lives in the Alps, characterized by shortened wings and tails. Black tapered stripes are wider than other moths.
• Iphiclidenspodaliriusfeisthamelii is a subspecies common in Spain and Portugal. On the front wings there are 7 vertical stripes. The underside of the wings is partially yellow.
• Subalirium ab. Undecimpineatus - the form is characterized by the presence of 6 black stripes on the front wings.

Information. A related species, Iphiclidespodalirinus, lives in China and Tibet. The insect is poorly understood.

Distribution area

The species is quite widespread in Europe, in the warm summer butterflies fly to England, the Scandinavian countries. Sailboats live in the Caucasus, in Turkey, Iran, in Central Asia, India, and China. In Europe, the northern boundary of the range passes through 54 ° latitude. The butterflies seen below this line are migratory individuals creating temporary colonies. Separate subspecies of podalirium are found in North Africa. In Russia, the butterfly is noted in several regions: European Central, Middle Volga, West Caucasus, Predaltaysky, South Urals.

Butterflies of podalirii inhabit bright deciduous forests, forest-steppes, semi-deserts. Willingly flies into gardens and parks. In the foothills of the Carpathians and the Caucasus, it occurs at an altitude of up to 2000 m.

Interesting fact. The name was given to the hero of ancient Greek mythology, Podalirius. He was a famous doctor, he fought with the machaon under Troy.

Lifestyle

Years of butterflies are observed from April to September. Most often, they can be found in well-heated areas, by a thorny bush. Males actively fly over the hills. The triangular shape of the front wings and elongated tails increase stability in the planning flight. Moths are frequent guests in floodplains where they fly over a bush. Podalirium prefers plants growing on calcareous soils. The imago needs extra nutrition. They drink the nectar of viburnum, lilac, honeysuckle, and broom. Moths are attracted by large inflorescences of umbrella plants.

Two generations are replaced in a year. The first flies in May-June, the second - July-August. In the regions north of the Alps, one generation is observed. Butterflies are active in warm sunny weather, the greatest probability of meeting them from 12 to 16 hours.

Breeding

The development of the butterfly of podalirium occurs with complete transformation: egg, caterpillar, pupa and imago. During the breeding season, males are active. They are looking for partners, fluttering over the bushes. In relation to competitors they show aggression, try to drive a competitor out of their territory. Periodically, males flock to puddles and moist areas of the soil to replenish the supply of salts and trace elements. Mating occurs on the ground or on the branches of bushes. After fertilization, females lay round white eggs. The masonry is placed on the apical leaves of fodder plants. Offspring of podalirium give preference to trees of the Rosaceae family. The egg stage takes 7-8 days, then a larva appears.

Caterpillar development

Butterfly larva is called a caterpillar. Her body is divided into three departments: head, chest, abdomen. The head capsule consists of 6 fused segments. The eyes are simple, the mouth apparatus is gnawing. Before the caterpillar appears, the light egg darkens. The little larva has to gnaw its way out. In the first age, the caterpillars are black, only on the back are two small green spots. Their body is covered with hard hairs. Its length is 3 mm.

The larval podalirium has 3 pairs of thoracic and 5 pairs of false abdominal legs ending in claws. Long black setae disappear at the second age. After molting, the caterpillar turns green. A bright longitudinal stripe appears along the back, slanting strips on the sides. By the third age, orange dots become noticeable. Development takes 25 days, for each period 3-5 days. After molting, the larva eats the old cuticle. The length of the insect before pupation is 30-35 mm.

Interesting fact. Caterpillars of sailing ships, including podalirium, have a special organ - osmetrium. This is a gland-shaped gland located on the prothorax. In case of danger, the caterpillar pushes it out, while a secret with an unpleasant odor is released. The green color, imitating the color of the leaves, allows the insect to go unnoticed.

Larvae of polyphages, fodder plants are:

• hawthorn;
• bird cherry;
• plum;
• Apple tree;
• Rowan;
• turn;
• peach.

In the process of nutrition, the edges of the leaves are nibbled. Feeding occurs at night and in the morning. Daytime is at rest. The caterpillar weaves a small pillow on the leaves, which is attached for daytime sleep.

Before pupation, the caterpillar stops feeding, red-brown spots appear on its back. The summer pupa is greenish-yellow; in 10-11 days a young butterfly appears. Autumn chrysalis brown, the color of dry leaves. Part of the caterpillars pupate on the branches, attached to them by a web. Others creep in search of secluded places. This can be a gap in a tree trunk or a root zone of a dense shrub. The insect hibernates in the pupal phase.

Threats and protective measures

The following factors led to a decrease in the number of butterflies:

1. Destruction of deciduous forests and other plantations, which are the natural habitat of butterflies.
2. Mass treatment of gardens with insecticides.
3. Felling of thickets of thorns at the edges, in beams and ravines, burning of grass, leading to the death of wintering pupae.
4. Reduced area with fodder plants due to plowing or development.

The contracting species is taken under state protection. Butterfly podalirium is listed in the Red Book of several regions of the Russian Federation: Moscow, Smolensk, Vologda. Famous habitats are protected from destruction and economic activity. Butterfly trapping prohibited. The tail-bearer podalirium appeared in the Red Book of Ukraine and Poland.