🦋 Papilio maacki (Spring Form)

Common Name: Alpine Black Swallowtail

Region: China, Japan, South Korea

Appearance: Greenish-blue iridescent wings over a black base; hindwings shimmer with blue-green scales and subtle eye spots.

Size: Wingspan 90–110 mm

Habitat: Montane and lowland mixed forests

Behavior: Strong, gliding flier—often patrols edges of forests or canopy gaps

Feeding: Prefers nectar from honeysuckle, butterfly bush, lilac, and other flowering plants

Taxonomy: Family Papilionidae | Genus Papilio

Larval Host Plants: Prunus spp., mock-orange, and others

Seasonal Variation: Spring form smaller and greener; summer form larger and bluer