Apollo

(Parnassius apollo)

18/07/04 Spanish Pyrenees

18/07/04 Spanish Pyrenees

18/07/10 Isère (38)

The Apollo is a fantastic, large butterfly of mountain ranges. They were reasonably common in the Pyrenees where they seemed mostly fresh in mid-July. The translucent forewing edges are characteristic, as are the four red spots on the hindwings which are prone to variation in colour intensity......just look at the difference in colour between the bottom pair of spots in the butterflies on this page! A truly magnificent species.