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Ok Kristen and Florida lady I bow to your advanced knowledge I need your skills - thanks for the information. Ancient as I am I still gather!
Here are some more good photos at BAMONA:
Spicebush: http://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/speci...
Pipevine: http://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/speci...
Hi Mick, I rear both species for work in Tampa Florida where I am the curator of a butterfly garden attached to a science museum. Both species are Florida natives that I have worked closely with for over 10 years.
Here is a link to some photos I took last year of a Spicebush Swallowtail: http://lepcurious.blogspot.com/2010/10/s...
MickGrant - Take a look at the pictures at this link of a Spicebush Swallowtail.
http://www.carolinanature.com/butterflie...
You'll see the spots Kristen is referring to. This can be a tricky call to make, but Kristen and I raise both of these butterflies at the BioWorks Butterfly Garden in Tampa, FL. We spend a lot of time around both species and know them well.
Additionally, Spicebush Swallowtails have a deep orange to reddish spot on the hind wings near the tails.
I'm going to agree with Jill here. The lower wings have a double row of white spots and a deep blue iridescent coloring. This is a male Pipevine Swallowtail. Females have the same rows of spotting but have a less iridescent wing that appears nearly black in color.
Yes Spice-bush (Green - clouded) Pterourus troilus - due to blue green lunules around wing outer curve. More shots please on next one.
This is not Pipevine Swallowtail, but I think it is Spicebush Swallowtail. You have to look at the picture carefully, but there is blue-green in the lower wings.