Friday 20 June 2014

Maltese birds, butterflies and bees!



Swallow tail Butterfly |Tan-Nixxiegha Olive Grove
| Photo by Christian Borg | 20.6.14

Swallowtails found in the Maltese islands are an endemic race found nowhere else in the world. If it becomes extinct in the Maltese islands this race will be lost forever. The swallowtail is our only endemic butterfly. It is so special that it should be declared Malta’s national butterfly. We already have a national plant, national bird and national tree. It is now time to have a national butterfly as well. Its scientific name is Papilio machaon melitensis, melitensis showing that it is a Maltese race. In Maltese it has several names. It is known as farfett tar-reġina(queen’s butterfly), farfett tal-busbies and farfett tal-fejġel, fennel and rue being its two food plants. It is also known as farfett tal-lira (Reference: Mr. Paul Portelli).

Swallow tail Butterfly |Tan-Nixxiegha Olive Grove
| Photo by Christian Borg | 20.6.14

Maltese Swallow Tail feeding on Wild Thyme and a bee in flight | Tan-Nixxiegha Olive Grove | Photo by Christian Borg | 20.6.14


Shhh! they're asleep | Tan-Nixxiegha Olive Grove | Photo by Christian Borg | 20.6.14


Nestlings of a Sardinian Warbler | Tan-Nixxiegha Olive Grove | Photo by Christian Borg | 20.6.14



Information about the Maltese Swallow Tail Butterfly by Mr. Paul Portelli


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