#iphiclides

this iberian scarce swallowtail (Iphiclides feisthamelii) has certainly seen better days, but i think photos of butterflies like this are at least just as interesting as those of freshly eclosed, perfectly intact individuals. there's an element of storytelling involved, if you think about the multiple potential predators it might have eluded. it could also just be really bad at being a butterfly, but the point stands

Latin Name: Iphiclides feisthamelii (Duponchel, 1832)

English Name:  Iberian Scarce Swallowtail

Catalan Name: Papallona zebrada 

Spanish Name: Mariposa Chupaleche 

Portuguese Name: Borboleta Zebra

Finnish Name:  Aaltopurjeritari

Family: PAPILIONIDAE

Location: Montjuic Castell, Barcelona, Spain

Small description: This specie has wings that can have 7 to 9 cm of wingspan with black strips over a white wing coloration. The wings have large tails. In the wings can be found some yellowish and small blue strips. 

The body of this butterfly is black and yellow. And there is no coloration differences between the males and the females. 

while the absurdly flawless mint condition of this iberian swallowtail (Iphiclides feisthamelii) is certainly unusual, either a product of lucky timing on my part or a very lucky butterfly, it contrasts nicely with the battle-scarred individual from a while back. most individuals one can find on a walk will be somewhere between these two extremes. probably leaning more towards this one. the other one was real fucked up