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Black Swallowtail

Posted on May 11, 2016

I have been on a bird tear lately, and considering it is May and this is the Roger Tory Peterson Institute of Natural History, I think it is very appropriate. However, spring is also springing for butterflies and I cannot neglect them. I found and photographed this Black Swallowtail (Papilio polyxenes) yesterday, and considering how fresh and crisp it looks the butterfly seems like it could have flown right off the pages of a Peterson Field Guide. The Clouded Sulphur, American Lady, Eastern Tailed-Blue and more are all in the air now. What species have you spotted so far this May?

Black Swallowtail Butterfly-2326

Scott Kruitbosch
Conservation & Outreach Coordinator