Apollo butterfly

An Alpine species, found in damp locations between 1300 and 2800m, the Mountain Apollo is in its butterfly stage between May and August/September. The Apollo caterpillar is black and has red spots on the side as it develops. It remains in the caterpillar stage for two years. A protected and red-listed insect, its decline in Europe is essentially due to two factors: global warming is leading to a reduction of the winter snow cover that seems necessary for the survival of young caterpillars, and their habitats are also being affected by environmental closures (reforestation).