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Sicilian Swallowtails (1 Viewer)

Muppit17

Well-known member
I attach a couple of pictures of Swallowtails seen in Sicily last month.

The upperside appears to be very similar to the pictures I have seen of Corsican Swallowtail, however the underside (admittedly not the best) appears to be wholly consistent with a "normal" swallowtail.

Can anyone point me in the direction of any clarification on what is the situation in Sicily
 

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Hi
http://www.eurobutterflies.com/sp/hospiton.php states that hospiton (Corsican Swallowtail) only occurs on Corsica and Sardinia. I've seen somewhat similar 'dark' Swallowtails in Mallorca where they are just machaon. The European Checklist only gives machaon and alexanor for Sicily.

Thanks honeym. Interested to see that dark swallowtails are prevalent elsewhere. I know the points and sites you raised. It is not clear in any on any genetic research and if the dark form is purely a morph or genetically distinct.

By the way huge numbers of swallowtails seen migrating south, together with Plain Tigers, Painted Ladies and Clouded Yellows - often seen to be moving as far as I could see offshore.
 
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