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| Photos: explicit permission must be obtained from Matt Rowlings for any use of any images from eurobutterflies.com. |
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Small Apollo
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Valais, Switzerland, July 2006 |
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Valais, Switzerland, July 2006 |
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Small Apollo Distribution: The Alps of France, Switzerland, Italy and Austria. Identification: Large white butterfly with distinctive red and black
rings. Similar only to the Apollo, P. apollo, with which it can fly
differing in two ways: Flight time: July is the best time for fresh specimens, flying into August. Habitat: Usually grassy places in the shelter of gulleys, cliffs or, at lower levels, at the edges of woodland. Generally at higher levels around 2000-2200m but I've seen it as low as 1600m (single records) and upto 2400m (can be common). Larvae feed on Yellow Mountain Saxifrage, Saxifraga aizoides. Behaviour: Similar to the Apollo, their flight is not particularly graceful or strong but if disturbed can move very quickly with powerful strokes of their large wings. Also similarly graceless when "crashing" into flowers to feed. |
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Valais, Switzerland, July 2005 (f) |
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Valais, Switzerland, July 2005 |
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Piedmont, Italy, July 2004 (m) |
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Grisons, Switzerland, July 2003 (f) |
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Grisons, E Switzerland, July 2003 (f) |