Old World swallowtail
Found from northern Africa and Europe across Asia to Alaska and Canada, it is one of the most widely distributed butterflies on Earth.
| Where | Meadows, hillsides, and open flowery habitats |
|---|---|
| Size | 65 to 80 mm wingspan |
| When | April to September |
Its wings are pale yellow with bold black veining and blotches, and each hindwing carries a short tail along with a red spot and a row of blue crescents near the edge.
Caterpillars feed on plants in the carrot family such as fennel, dill, and wild carrot, and adults fly with a strong, fast wingbeat, pausing to hover at flowers for nectar.
Traits
Habitat
Grassland
Colour
Yellow, Black, Blue
Active
Day
To people
Harmless
Activity through the year
Often confused with
The scarce swallowtail has a paler, creamy background color with narrower black stripes and longer, more slender tails than the bolder black and yellow pattern of the Old World swallowtail.
Questions
Is the Old World swallowtail dangerous to people?
The Old World swallowtail is harmless to people.
When can you see the Old World swallowtail?
The Old World swallowtail can be seen from April to September, by day.
Plate retouched from a photo by Didier Descouens, CC BY‑SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons Licence
The plate on this page is shared under the same licence as its source, CC BY-SA.
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Butterflies and moths›Swallowtails›Papilio
Last updated 2026-09-26. Every entry is checked against published sources.