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Photo: Arne Ader

 Translation: Liis

 

Swallowtail on dandelion

 

The swallowtail is held to be one of our most beautiful butterflies – large and conspicuous, it is easily recognized. Specimens with the largest wing span among our daytime butterflies, 28 centimetres; on the rear wings are the spurs, a characteristic only of the swallowtail.

 

It is mostly encountered in open areas where it flies very fast and may rise very high up. The occasions are not at all rare when the master fliers stray into cities too.

 

On feeding the swallowtail stays placidly sucking nectar and allows itself to be  nicely admired and photographed.