European Swallowtail (Papilio machaon ssp. gorganus)
British Swallowtail
(Papilio machaon ssp. britannicus)
These lovely butterflies survive in Britain as fragile populations in a man-made habitat; the Norfolk Broads, which were excavated for peat during the Middle Ages. They are entirely dependent on the caterpillar's foodplant; Milk Parsley, which varies in its numbers each year.
If our climate does indeed become warmer , the continental subspecies; Papilio Machoan. gorganus will establish itself in the South of England. It is a far commoner immigrant to our shores than is generally thought, although records are bedevelled by introductions and fraud.
Papilionidae- Swallowtails
Currently with just one sub-species of Papilionidae, the UK os home to The Swallowtail (Papilio Machaon. brittanicus). Surviving in Britain now as fragile populations in largely man-made habitat; the Norfolk Broads, it feeds on Milk Parsley alone but was once much more widespread.
Some believe its European cousin (Papilio Machaon. Gorganus) will oneday colonise our shores and be a common garden visitor.