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Small Apollo with red spot on the front wing and 2 red eyes on each
rear wing. One of these rear wing spots is often covered by the front
wing when the butterfly is in resting position.
The antennae of the Small Apollo (left) have a clear circular black and white pattern in contrast to the Apollo.
Saxifrage (Saxifraga Ciliata), forage plant of the Small Apollo. | ALPINE APOLLO
Parnassius phoebus
(Small Apollo in English.)
With a wing spread of 50-60 millimetres it is somewhat smaller than
regular Apollo, typically with red spots not only on the rear wings but
also on the edge of the front wings.
Only to be found in the
Alps in Europe, usually above the timber line. Also to be found on the
American West Coast and in Central and Northeast Asia.
Caterpillar equal to the Apollo with yellowish dotted side lines.
Forage plant: Saxifrage (Saxifraga Ciliata), which grows at the edges
of mountain brooks, in the wet areas around springs and other wet
grounds.
Text: Stefan Ineichen, ecologist, Zürich
Pictures: www.schmetterling-raupe.de
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