On a visit to Italy (Napoli) I saw two butterflies which I would like 
to identify.
The first was a white one, about the size of a Large White, but it 
had dark lines radiating from it's rear end, where there was a dark 
spot. It had the effect of faking it's position 180 degrees.
It was feeding on some small blooms.

A second one, which may be a moth for all I know, also fed on the 
blooms. It was dark in colour, had large prominent antennae, and it's 
body shape had a slight similarity to one of the fake hornets I have seen. 
It was much larger, though. It was a strong flier. I guess it to be about 
6 cm. long.

I looked about for a specific site, but can't find one so far.

Thanks.

"Miles - Nature"  wrote in message 
news:febbme$oes$1@aioe.org...
> On a visit to Italy (Napoli) I saw two butterflies which I would like to 
> identify.
> The first was a white one, about the size of a Large White, but it had 
> dark lines radiating from it's rear end, where there was a dark spot. It 
> had the effect of faking it's position 180 degrees.
> It was feeding on some small blooms.
>
> A second one, which may be a moth for all I know, also fed on the blooms. 
> It was dark in colour, had large prominent antennae, and it's body shape 
> had a slight similarity to one of the fake hornets I have seen. It was 
> much larger, though. It was a strong flier. I guess it to be about 6 cm. 
> long.
>
> I looked about for a specific site, but can't find one so far.
>
> Thanks.
>

You could try this site.  I have no idea if it will be any use but it's a 
place to start from:
http://facweb.furman.edu/~snyderjohn/lepsoc/identify1.htm

HTH

Tina

"Miles - Nature"  wrote in message 
news:febbme$oes$1@aioe.org...
> On a visit to Italy (Napoli) I saw two butterflies which I would like to 
> identify.
> The first was a white one, about the size of a Large White, but it had 
> dark lines radiating from it's rear end, where there was a dark spot. It 
> had the effect of faking it's position 180 degrees.
> It was feeding on some small blooms.

Possible Scarce Swallowtail?
http://www.guypadfield.com/scarceswallowtail.html

"OG"  wrote in message
news:5mssipFeuiecU1@mid.individual.net...
>
> "Miles - Nature"  wrote in message
> news:febbme$oes$1@aioe.org...
>> On a visit to Italy (Napoli) I saw two butterflies which I would like to
>> identify.
>> The first was a white one, about the size of a Large White, but it had
>> dark lines radiating from it's rear end, where there was a dark spot. It
>> had the effect of faking it's position 180 degrees.
>> It was feeding on some small blooms.
>
> Possible Scarce Swallowtail?
> http://www.guypadfield.com/scarceswallowtail.html
>
Very nearly. Must be a very close cousin. No tail.
Possibly closest is ssp. podalirius, but I didn't notice blue
or anything protruding from the dark point at the rear.

thanks.