Papilio saharae ¦ Desert Swallowtail ¦ euroButterflies

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Papilio saharae

Desert Swallowtail

euroButterflies

by Matt Rowlings

Anti-Atlas, Morocco, March 2022

Anti-Atlas, Morocco, March 2022

Field notes and information

An eremic (desert) butterfly, in the region found only in the northern limits of the Sahara across N Africa.

Identification & Similar species: Very similar to the swallowtail P. machaon and there is some overlap in range in N Africa. There are differences in the count of the antennal segments with 30-31 in saharae and 33-36 in machaon, and on average saharae is smaller. The larvae are quite distinct and the larval food plants are different.

Useful differentials are the location on the northern reaches of the Sahara with the presence of the larval food plant Deverra sp.

Distribution & Flight: Distributed throughout the Sahara venturing to the southern slopes of the Atlas mountains in Morocco, Algeria and Tunisia. Often at higher altitudes where the larval food plant grows.

In 2023 it has been reported from the Italian island Lampedusa. Records from Sicily need to be confirmed.

Double brooded, flying early in spring (March-May) and again at the end of summer (end August-September).

Habitat & Behaviour: Very dry desolate places where the larval food plant grows. Typically barren stony desert with slightly higher chance of water, such as along wadis or sheltered slopes of mountain sides.

The larval foodplants are Deverra sp. These are distinctive plants, with a very strong odour of aniseed when the stiff stems are damanged.