Butterfly season is beginning. Already I've seen a Buckeye, copious migrating Monarchs, a Tiger Swallowtail high up in the trees, and a Comma Angel Wing. More will be coming. I struggle with identification of some of the black swallowtails. Some are Spicebush, some are Pipevines, some are Red Spotted Purples, some are female of another species. For the life of me I cannot keep them straight. Some guy on Flicker chastised me for improper identification so obviously I need the help of experts. So....what is this one?
Friday, May 22, 2009
Butterflies
Butterfly season is beginning. Already I've seen a Buckeye, copious migrating Monarchs, a Tiger Swallowtail high up in the trees, and a Comma Angel Wing. More will be coming. I struggle with identification of some of the black swallowtails. Some are Spicebush, some are Pipevines, some are Red Spotted Purples, some are female of another species. For the life of me I cannot keep them straight. Some guy on Flicker chastised me for improper identification so obviously I need the help of experts. So....what is this one?
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6 comments:
Hi Debi- that is a tricky one. I searched through bugguide.net and this one appears very similar- http://bugguide.net/node/view/46836/bgimage - which is a female black form of the Eastern Tiger Swallowtail. Good photo- butterflies are tricky to get photos of. At first I thought it was a Spicebush Swallowtail- but they don't have those little "crescent moon" marks before the blue areas like your specimen does.
I've no idea, Debi -- but that lantana takes my breath away!! Enjoy your weekend!
Before I looked at the comments I thought it might be a Black Swallowtail too Debi. This can be a very difficult task! I had to go fetch my Kaufman's Butterfly Guide which was on the couch from last night!! We've been doing the same thing lately!!
I have the same problems identifying the black-colored ones. I know the Spicebush have a second band of orange spots on the underside of their hindwings. This one is probably a female Eastern Tiger. I think your photo is fantastic!
as you know since I've only ever seen 2 types of butterfly in my life I have no idea :) But it is a Beau! I adore the colour and the shapes on the bottom part of it's wings, like a tail. So intriguing.
Oh shame on him...can't people enjoy the beauty that IS your photography my friend, and just let it be...or sweetly correct you?! I love your butterfly photos -- glorious!! LOVE From out here!
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