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Mila'sExotic Plants & CuriositiesA living collection by Luminary OdditiesLuminary Oddities · Natural history & art
Parnassius apollo
Lepidoptera / Papilionidae
Parnassius apollo has white wings marked with black forewing spots and red hindwing eyespots. It inhabits open, stony terrain where its caterpillars feed on stonecrops and related succulents.
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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]
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]
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.
Natural History Museum, London · Accessed 2026-10-11
Cuvelier and Paparisto, Butterflies of Albania, University of Tirana (updated 2026) · Accessed 2026-10-11
Ulster Museum, National Museums NI · Accessed 2026-10-11
Sources checked 2026-10-11. Illustrations · Luminary Oddities.
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