Scarce Swallowtail underside

The Scarce Swallowtail is a Palearctic swallowtail butterfly found in gardens, fields and open woodlands. First described by Linnaeus in 1758, it is found in places with sloe thickets and particularly orchards. It is also called Sail Swallowtail or Pear-tree Swallowtail. The Southern Swallowtail , is sometimes treated as a subspecies. Despite the name , this swallowtail is quite common.