Currently unavailable. Confined exclusively to the norfolk broads and afforded full protection in law, ssp. britannicus is an instantly recognisable insect and also our largest resident butterfly. With smaller blue spots than its european counterpart gorganus, and with denser black markings, the english swallowtail is one of our rarest species. Fortunately, captive bred livestock that pre-dates prohibitive legislation, exists via a network of dedicated breeders, who maintain these populations year after year.
Pairings and egg laying can be achieved naturally in relatively small cages if placed in hot, bright, sunshine, with plenty of nectar on hand. Alternatively, machaon is one of the easier species to hand-pair and this method can be employed to great effect. Eggs are laid in the wild on milk parsley, but in captivity are deposited readily on fennel; the larvae will also take carrot tops and dill etc.
Larval foodplants: milk parsley (peucedanum), fennel (foeniculum) and others.
Rearing: sleeves.
Photographs: final instar larvae (upright); final instar lavae (horizontal). Gorganus larvae used for illustration purposes.
