Reader Margarida Serra photographed a caterpillar on August 27 in Rogil, Aljezur, on a young blackthorn tree, and sent the photograph to Wilder wanting to know the species. Two caterpillars were observed on the same blackthorn tree, still there on August 28 feeding on the leaves.
The species was identified by the Nocturnal Butterfly Station Network as being the caterpillar of the zebra butterfly, whose scientific name is Iphiclides feisthamelii. This is a large and beautiful butterfly from the Papilionidae family.
This species can be found in Portugal, Spain, Southern France, and North Africa. The females lay their eggs individually on a wide variety of trees, both wild species such as blackthorn or blackthorn trees, and fruit trees in orchards, including pear, apple, and peach trees.
According to specialist Patrícia Garcia Pereira, from Tagis – Centre for Butterfly Conservation in Portugal, the caterpillars have slow development and do not cause major damage to the host plants.
