Filming VarWild: Papilio alexanor

In the South of France lives Alexanor or Southern Swallowtail, of the family Papilionidae. This butterfly has a wingspan of 62–70 mm and is a protected species in France. It lives in very small and localized populations in the Southeast. It flies in one generation between end of May and beginning of July and loves warm limestone sites, dry, stony or rocky from 600 to 1500 m altitude. The female lays single eggs on the umbels of Ptychotis saxifraga, preferentially on those in bud or early bloom. Eventually, the caterpillar leaves the host plant in search for a suitable site to prepare its metamorphosis. The chrysalis hibernates motionless until spring.