How to repel the milk-sucking butterfly or Iphiclides feisthamelii?

Is the Iphiclides feisthamelii, truth? This species is, without a doubt, one of the most beautiful that we can find in warm-temperate Europe, as well as in North Africa. Its colors and patterns are very characteristic, so it is not difficult to recognize it.

But it must be said about it that, although it is almost always harmless (in fact, all insects and microorganisms are if they are in their natural habitat), it does not hurt to keep an eye on it just in case. Then I'll tell you why.

What are their characteristics?

It is a ditrisio lepidopteran belonging to the Papilionidae family that lives in Spain, Portugal, southern France, Morocco, Algeria and Tunisia. The adult measures between 35 and 42mm, and has yellowish-white forewings with black bands, and rear wings with tail-like extensions, with metallic blue scales at the base. Males are larger than females, and are somewhat darker in color.

Its life cycle is characterized by the two or three generations that can emerge per year, which adds up to between 2 and 6 new milk-sucking butterflies, since females only lay 1-2 eggs at a time.

What symptoms or damage do they cause to plants?

Once the larvae hatch, they feed on the leaves of the Prunus, especially of these species: Almond (almond), Prunus (peach tree) and Prunus domestica subsp. institution (wild plum).

Apart from these, there are also others that can be affected, and they are the pyrus communis (pear tree), Malus domestica (apple tree) and the Crataegus oxyacantha. For this reason, the symptoms and / or damage that it causes will be seen on the leaves, which will appear nibbled or with little holes, as well as with a progressive yellowing.

How does it repel?

If we grow some of the species that we have mentioned, it will be interesting to take some ecological measures to prevent them from being affected by the Iphiclides feisthamelii.

For that, we can make a garlic decoction every 15 daysThen we pour the resulting liquid into a container and then place it near the plant that we want to protect.

So sure it will not come close 🙂, but as we will not harm it, we can enjoy its beauty.