Black Swallowtail
by Robert Bales
Title
Black Swallowtail
Artist
Robert Bales
Medium
Photograph - Photo
Description
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This Swallowtail returned to these flowers several times a day while we were camping in Salmon, Idaho.
Swallowtail butterflies are large, colorful butterflies in the family Papilionidae, and include over 550 species.Though the majority are tropical, members of the family inhabit every continent except Antarctica. The family includes the largest butterflies in the world, the birdwing butterflies of the genus Ornithoptera.]
Swallowtails have a number of distinctive features; for example, the Papilionid caterpillar bears a repugnatorial organ called the osmeterium on its prothorax. The osmeterium normally remains hidden, but when threatened, the larva turns it outward through a transverse dorsal groove by inflating it with fluid
The Eastern tiger swallowtail (Papilio glaucus) is a species of swallowtail butterfly native to eastern North America. It is one of the most familiar butterflies in the eastern United States, where it is common in many different habitats. It flies from spring to fall, during which it produces two to three broods. Adults feed on the nectar of many species of flowers, mostly from those of the Apocynaceae, Asteraceae, and Fabaceae families. P. glaucus has a wingspan measuring 7.9 to 14 cm (3.1 to 5.5 in). The male is yellow with four black "tiger stripes" on each fore wing. Females may be either yellow or black, making them dimorphic. The yellow morph is similar to the male, but with a conspicuous band of blue spots along the hindwing, while the dark morph is almost completely black.
Eastern tiger swallowtails are diurnal, and are usually solitary. Adults are known to fly high above the ground, usually seen above the tree canopy. Males seek females by patrolling habitats containing the larval host plants. During courtship, the male and female fly about each other prior to landing and mating. The male releases perfume-like pheromones during courtship to entice the female into mating.
Uploaded
February 1st, 2017
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Viewed 1,327 Times - Last Visitor from New York, NY on 03/18/2024 at 5:00 PM
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Comments (30)
Anita Faye
Robert, happy to feature your beautiful work on Groovy Butterflies! https://fineartamerica.com/groups/groovy-butterflies.html
John Bartelt
Robert, what a beautiful portrait of this gorgeous butterfly! Great composition, clarity and detail! l/f
Emmy Vickers
Wow Robert, great capture from above. Nice lighting and detail. l/v
Robert Bales replied:
Thanks Emmy for the nice comments on the lighting and detail along with the LV!!