Butterfly identification needed.

 

 

We've been sent these pictures by some of our readers who would like to know exactly what is flying around in their villa. It looks very much like a swallowtail, but is a different shape to the ones we have on the finca, which seem more elongated and a lot yellower with much stronger markings, and we have absolutely no knowledge at all about butterflies ourselves.

 Can anyone help?

 

You lot are amazing. This story went on around midnight after the football, and by 9am there's a message in the inbox as follows.

"The butterfly is a scarce swallowtail (Iphiclides Podalirius) hope this helps Ian."

It certainly does. Thanks ian, much appreciated.

Ian then came back and told us that the scarce swallowtail is widespread but is not a commonly seen butterfly. He says there is another type of swallowtail in the region, Papilio machaon, which is more widespread and more common, so that's probably the one we have in our garden.

He also sent us a photograph of something quite extraordinary which he photographed with his mobile phone at the back of his garden up near Sucina. It's a  chameleon and he said it's the only time he's seen one here in Spain, he couldn't believe his luck!

Has anybody else got one? Or any other swallowtails?

Update July 21st. nother reply has come in, this throws us into a quandry.

Your butterfly is a zebra swallowtail (euritides marcellus)It likes paw paw trees.

So what do we do now?

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