I'm saying Palamedes Swallowtail, and if it is, then it's the first time I've have this butterfly in my yard. I don't know for sure and I've researched pictures until my eyes are crossed. Please let me know what kind of Butterfly it is and it's gender.
Here is a side view.
Hi Cordeledawg
Wow! It sure looks exactly like every picture of Papilio palamedes I can find. I don't see any mention of gender ID from the wings, but probably someone could tell from the body size and shape, etc. (not me!) I saw a site the other day that showed the differences in eastern tiger swallowtails' bodies (also Papilio sp.) male/female but I can't find it now.
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/EDISImagePage?imageID=479385043&dlNumber=IN217&tag=FIGURE%201&credits=Jerry%20F.%20Butler,%20University%20of%20Florida
http://www.duke.edu/~jspippen/butterflies/palamedesswallowtail.htm
fixed/shortened link
This message was edited Aug 17, 2008 2:25 PM
Thanks Claypa! He's (or she) the first Palamedes I've seen in my yard. I've hoped and wished for a new kind of butterfly to visit my yard. I did plant three host trees last year as a lure, 2 Sweet Bay Magnolias and a Red Bay tree.
I'll leave this open a while to see if someone can tell me how to tell the gender.
