Black Swallowtail
A Pennsylvania Butterfly
Sept. 23, 2006

 


  The black swallowtail is a particularly beautiful and large butterfly. The one below is a male, with its bright upper line of yellow markings. (I've particularly clear photos of a female from August 21, 2011.)

There are a number of different types of black butterflies, but the swallowtail has its pair of small wing extension at the bottom. And for the male black swallowtail, note the extra half-moon yellow marking in the upper row.

 
Black swallowtail, wings open
 
  The second photo is a female black swallowtail, since its inner row of markings tends to orange, rather than yellow.
 
Black swallowtail, wings closed
 
  Happiness is photographing a butterfly that can be identified.

Photo note: Both photos were taken with the Pentax *1st D and the SMC 1000mm reflex lens. The first was taken in August; the second in September.



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