Swallowtail
(Papilio machaon ssp. gorganus)
Simply stunning ...
The
British race of P. machaon, subspecies
britannicus, is confined to the fens of the Norfolk Broads in east
Norfolk. This is partly due to the distribution of its principal larval foodplant, Milk-parsley (Peucedanum palustre). The
morphologically similar continental subspecies, gorganus, is less specific in its requirements and will use many
kinds of umbellifer, for example Wild Carrot (Daucus carota) and Fennel (Foeniculum
vulgare).
Following
on from 2013 and 2014, both of which transpired to be exceptional periods for continental Swallowtail
sightings in Sussex, with overwintered pupae from the 2013 breeding season
emerging during May and June 2014, sightings of at least three plausible
‘migrant’ specimens have been recorded to date in 2015.
Pete Wong recorded the first, photographed in
the meadow at Kithurst Hill on Saturday, 16th May. This sighting was not
published at the time due to the vulnerable nature of this important site - the
location already being under stress from footfall with the Duke of Burgundy
season being well underway. However, there were no further sightings of this
transient and slightly worn specimen. At the end of May an unsubstantiated
report of more than one individual was noted from a location in East Sussex.
Despite a published image, there
is debate as to the authenticity and provenance of this report. Consequently,
this is disregarded in this account. The next sighting came on Thursday, 30th
July, when D Buck observed a worn individual near to the windmill in
Rottingdean. The third report, of a specimen photographed by Helen Kalkbrenner
near Nymans in Handcross, occurred on Sunday, 9th August.
Let’s
hope this starts to trend, as it’s not out of the question with our climate continuing to become warmer, for this magnificent butterfly to take hold in the foreseeable
future …
