Black Swallowtail Butterfly
Here’s a Black Swallowtail (Papilio polyxenes) shot from this summer to add a little to the mood of our Halloween week. These delightfully bold butterflies have such a terrific contrast to them. While I have not seen any of them recently, I certainly have seen many other butterfly species still on the wing thanks to such a warm October. These include still sizable numbers of Painted Lady, Monarch, Common Buckeye, Orange Sulphur, and more. Do you still have any butterflies in your yard? Any flower you can find now is going to attract them! Scott Kruitbosch Conservation & Outreach...
Read MoreBlack Swallowtail Dancing
The Black Swallowtail (Papilio polyxenes) butterfly photographed here looked to be dancing in the wind while still nectaring – talented insects!
Read MoreSpicebush Swallowtail on Eastern Purple Coneflower
This breathtaking sight was a recent morning surprise for me as once again the wonderful Eastern Purple Coneflower (Echinacea purpurea) brought in a special friend in the form of a Spicebush Swallowtail (Papilio troilus) butterfly. It can be somewhat difficult to identify the Spicebush Swallowtail as the Black Swallowtail (Papilio polyxenes) looks very similar. To me, in terms of general and unscientific impressions, the Spicebush Swallowtail is a duller black, flies a little stronger, and seems a little larger with broad wings. One scientific way to tell the species apart if you have a view...
Read MoreBlack Swallowtail
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? Scott...
Read MoreWorn Black Swallowtail
You can see the wear and tear on this Black Swallowtail (Papilio polyxenes) even as it was being battered by the wind and difficult to capture with my camera. It is so gratifying to see individuals like this surviving for so long. Fight on, butterfly! Scott Kruitbosch Conservation & Outreach Coordinator
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