Apollo butterfly (Parnassius apollo)

Species information

Facts & Status
Description
Range & Habitat
Biology
Threats & Conservation
Glossary & References
All

Videos and images

Range

Found throughout Europe, including Fennoscandia, into central Asia (4).

View a distribution map for this species at UNEP World Conservation Monitoring Centre.

Habitat

The Apollo butterfly inhabits mountain meadows and pastures, up to 2,000 metres above sea level (2), where there are plenty of nectar-providing flowers. Apollo caterpillars require stonecrop (Sedum species) and houseleek plants (Sempervivum species) which grow on barren rocky outcrops or gravel. Research has shown that it is vital for this species that the rocky outcrops, (with stonecrops and houseleek plants), are situated in close proximity to meadows and other nectar-rich areas (8).