Apollo

Parnassius apollo is a swallowtail-family butterfly named by Linnaeus in 1758. Apollo is the accepted English common name in the Natural History Museum’s taxonomic record. [1]

White wings carry large black forewing spots and red hindwing eyespots. The eyespots vary in size and shape among geographic populations. Females are generally larger than males. [2][3]

The species occurs in Europe and extends east through the Caucasus and adjoining Asian regions. In Albania, populations occupy stony ground with sparse vegetation at approximately 700–2,200 m. [2]

In Albania, one generation flies between early June and late August, with timing dependent on altitude and local climate. A fully developed larva winters inside the egg and hatches in early spring. [2]

Larvae feed on Crassulaceae, notably white stonecrop, Sedum album. Other recorded hosts include Rhodiola rosea and Sempervivum species. Adults visit flowers for nectar. [2]

The name Parnassius apollo retains Linnaeus’s species epithet from 1758; the recorded type locality is Sweden. [1][2]

Keep the enclosure closed and display it in indirect light, away from heat and damp conditions. Handle the frame by its edges and clean only its exterior according to the maker’s instructions.