Looking Like a Rose - _TNY_6701
This beauty which was temporarily resting on the ground at the Haga Ocean butterfly house in Solna, Sweden is a female common mormon (Papilio polytes f. polytes) - as in the form polytes of the species polytes.
The females of this species are polymorphic and mimic other, unpalatable species. This one makes a fairly good impression of the common rose (Pachliopta aristolochiae), a beautiful species which I haven't photographed.
There is also a colour form which looks just like the males so here is a shot which I am unable to tell if it is a male or female: www.flickr.com/photos/tinyturtle/52907390990/
Looking Like a Rose - _TNY_6701
This beauty which was temporarily resting on the ground at the Haga Ocean butterfly house in Solna, Sweden is a female common mormon (Papilio polytes f. polytes) - as in the form polytes of the species polytes.
The females of this species are polymorphic and mimic other, unpalatable species. This one makes a fairly good impression of the common rose (Pachliopta aristolochiae), a beautiful species which I haven't photographed.
There is also a colour form which looks just like the males so here is a shot which I am unable to tell if it is a male or female: www.flickr.com/photos/tinyturtle/52907390990/