who is this pretty guy?

I followed it around from plant to plant this morning just snapping photos.

Eastern Tiger Swallowtail - they are pretty!

thanks ML.

I edited a few more images.... he'she was flying all over sampling a variety of plants
[cone flower, zinnias, Nastursums and a few others.]

Also -- from all the images i've looked at - the Swallowtails all have "tails" where this one does not ... though the markings are the same.

here is probably the best shot I got....

The tails are a lesson in misdirection. They're designed to draw a bird's attack away from the head. The bird may get a chunk of the wing, but the butterfly can still fly away and live to see another day. Trust me, your butterfly had tails at one point in time!

Melanie

gotcha... thanks.