ID please?

A couple of days ago as I went out to take a few flower pics, this guy circled me a few times, then landed right in front of me.

Any Ideas?

Spicebush Swallowtail??...Papilio troilus

Males have a greenish cast to lower wings, females have a bluish cast.....closest I can come is this one.

Thanks melody. I don't see any color cast on the lower wings.
I have only seen one of these before and not nearly as close.
I think you are correct. There seem to be many slight color variations of this species.
trois

This message was edited Jul 20, 2006 4:14 PM

The second row of white dots is wrong for the Spicebush. I think the nearest I can come is the Eastern Black Swallowtail.

Well, now I am really confused. I can see similarities to either, and differences from either. I had no Idea there were so many color combinations within each species.
It was a beauty anyway.

trois

It was also an excellent photograph!

I agree with Melody. Something the Black Swallowtail doesn't have is what I call the double boomarang. See the orange spot?? Half orange and half white boomarang and below it another all white boomarang. The Black Swallowtail has only white below the orange dot which a key identification mark that I call the up-side down hersheys kiss. Also the orange dot has black in the middle on the BST not found on the Spicebush

Trois here is a pic of the underside of the Spicebush. See the comet in the middle?? has no orange dot by it. It is key identification mark to the Spicebush

Mine never once closed it's wings. I never got a look at the underside. After setting for about a minute, it took off at high speed.

Sorry, but thanks for the info.

trois

'Howdy' trois .. (and a late Happy Birthday, to you also)

Try this link .. An ideal reference for comparisons!!

> http://www.naba.org/chapters/nabambc/frames-2species.asp?sp1=Papilio-polyxenes&sp2=Papilio-troilus

You can pick & choose the two you desire to compare ..

Yours, looks to be the Spicebush Swallowtail (Papilio troilus) .. * < note, a similarity to your name, there!! .. LOL

- Magpye

This message was edited Jul 20, 2006 7:51 PM

I did not part of my name in there.

Thanks for the information. I wish It had folded it's wings for a photo.

trois

I think it IS a Spicebush Swallowtail. I've released quite a few and I think some look just like that.

I believe you are correct. I have seen a couple of others, but still none with their wings closed.

Thanks, trois