Papilio machaon ssp gorganus   Swallowtail

Papillon machaon

We actually caught this butterfly in black net but using Photoshop I've managed to allow it it to escape to a different part of Spain an settle on some Coris monspeliensis for contrast.

As our British Swallowtail ssp britannicus isn't found on the continent and the continental sub species doesn't fly in Britain I conclude that this specimen must be ssp gorganus but I'm told they are virtually indistinguishable.

Papilio machaon in net
Swallowtail in net large image

Roadside verge Cabo de Gata, Spain 20th March 2007

Added on 28th February 2008, updated 27th June 2008

Valid XHTML 1.0 Strict