Forest Swallowtail Butterfly
The only Papilio endemic to South Africa. An inhabitant of montane evergreen forest.
A fairly large species with spatulate tails. Tails unmarked.
Antennae with black tips (compare Constantine’s Swallowtail).
Males tend to keep to the forest canopy and tree tops whereas females are most often found along forest margins, clearings or paths in search of the food plant River Wild-quince Cryptocarya woodii on which to lay eggs.
Not being well versed in butterfly species, I research and find out more about what I see in nature. Just hope I got it right!
Up close and personal with the butterfly looking into those magic eyes. Below is an egg of the butterfly on a leaf.
Next is the caterpillar chomping his way through a leaf.
My butterfly was not in good nick, but what a splendid specimen it must have been in it's prime.
One glast look into those eyes of this beautiful Swallowtail Butterfly.
My Contribution to Macro Thursday with @juliank
!steemitworldmap 28.3726 lat 32.4142 long Macrophotography - Forest Swallowtail Butterfly D3SCR
All photography my own:
