My first Black Swallowtail

Seeing that there were “sort of” two rows of orange spots underneath, I knew this wasn’t a Pipevine Swallowtail and thought it would be a Spicebush Swallowtail. But Spicebush wasn’t right for the patterns “above” and when I finally looked at BAMONA’s Image Gallery, I realized this had to be a Black Swallowtail, which I haven’t [knowingly] photographed until now. Given the muted spotting above, I’m pretty sure this is a female.

Notes
» The state butterfly of Oklahoma.
» The ant underneath was just a bonus!
» January, 2022 edit: And still my *only* Black Swallowtail.

Not posted today: A “circle-of-life” photo of a jumping spider that had captured a skipper (butterfly); see it here, http://bugguide.net/node/view/843996

Confirmed at BAMONA as “Papilio polyxenes” or “Black Swallowtail”; http://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sighting_details/930255

Confirmed at BugGuide as female “Papilio polyxenes” or “Black Swallowtail - Hodges #4159” (subspecies Papilio polyxenes asterius); http://bugguide.net/node/view/844442

One year ago (“They’re here. Our new oars — C2s”): http://365project.org/rhoing/365/2012-09-17
Two years ago (“How many triangles?”): http://365project.org/rhoing/365/2011-09-17

17th September 2013 17th Sep 13