Spicebush Swallowtail

@ ForestDragon and DianePlatcoBrooks...thank you for the ID...I have change it from unknown to ID'd...thanks to all for the input and the website links

I agree with Diane regarding the flowers. They do look like Garden Phlox.

Definately Spicebush Swallowtail and the flower looks like Garden Phlox, Phlox paniculata
http://www.mywildflowers.com/detail.asp?...

Agree with ForestDragon. I would ID this one as a Spicebush (Papilio troilus) 100%. Note the Pipevine has only one row of orange spots on outside of hind wing. Spicebush, like this picture, has 2 rows. I tried adding my vote to Forest's ID suggestion but it did not seem to be working.

The flowers were outside the visitors center at Cape Henlopen State Park, I would tend to believe they were a native species not a landscaping product, but can't say for sure.

As far as the flowers go, were these in a garden? It will help with ID if we know if they were wild growing or domestic.

Hi James, it seems there is a fair amount of debate as to the species of this butterfly! I do believe this is a Spicebush Swallowtail. Here is one to compare to yours: http://bugguide.net/node/view/307056

Bugguide has a pretty good guide to telling these apart from other similar looking species on the Black Swallowtail Info page (just scroll down the page to the "Identification" section and then down to the "See Also" section:
http://bugguide.net/node/view/2636

I am sorry Ana but I disagree with your suggestion. Pipevine Swallowtails have a row of orange spots that do not touch:
Pipevine Swallowtail: http://bugguide.net/node/view/2609

@KarenPuracan...this is the website I used for reference...http://www.naba.org/chapters/nabambc/construct-species-page.asp?sp=Papilio-troilus#phototable-4

@KarenPuracan...so then this would be a Spicebush Swallowtail? Sure would not be able to tell the difference with only a quick glance in the field...glad I snapped the photo

I withdraw my tiger swallowtail suggestion.... (ooooooppps!). I didn't see that comet mark on the hind wing . Here's a good guide for these two : http://forums.gardenweb.com/forums/load/...

I think if it has spots is an adult female but I'm not entirely sure

@ rams4d...thanks

nice picture

Thank you AnaMoral and KarenPuracan for the suggestions, I looked up both and am thinking it is the Tiger swallowtail, Black Morph. I do have a question though. Most of the photos I have seen do not have the spots on the body, some do. Is there a reason for the spots (or lack thereof) ?

Hi James! Sorry I could not find the flower but the butterfly seems to be a pipevine swallowtail. More details on the ID suggestion from Butterflies and Moths of North America.

Tiger swallowtail, black morph.