False apollo - Archon apollinus

Family: Papilionidae. Flight Time: March-April. Size: 54-60mm Altitude: 0-1100m

Taken in SW Turkey a few years back, this is quite a special species. They were never common but what a sight, you can actually see the flowers through the wing. Even natural sunlight produces a little reflection, but not enough to distract from the beautiful image. It has quite a restricted distribution in Europe, but can be seen on a number of the eastern Greek islands as well as Turkey.