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Papilio glaucus
These are large, slow flying butterflies and are easily recognized without a camera. They are bright yellow and have tiger-looking black stripes than can be seen by the naked eye. Frozen in a photograph, one can see blue and orange spots on the bottom edge of the butterfly. The number and pattern indicates male or female. This picture series is a male. From the size of the abdomen (the caterpiller-like center) - this male is well fed on the huge lantana plants and other flowers in the area. There were two butterflies, but one flew away as soon as I got the camera going.
south and eastern USA.
Because it has adapted to many different habitats and host plants, P. glaucus is a generalist, and is not considered threatened.[2][8] - Wikipedia
Spotted on Aug 4, 2011
Submitted on Aug 8, 2011
2 Comments
Thanks. I think this might actually be a female. I'm not 100% certain, after looking at it again. Males are usually brighter blue on back edge, and from the top. This looks mostly black.
nice pics!