This is my Japanese Lilac tree...when it is in bloom the bees and the butterflys love it. This is the female eastern tiger swallowtail. They can be yellow or black. When they are yellow they like the male, they have more blue on their tail area. Notice that this one has a lot of blue too.
Say Sherry, that looks like the Black Swallowtail instead of the Tiger Swallowtail to me (Papilio polyxenes). Whatcha think?
I checked it out in a few places Sjoerd and I still think it is the eastern female tiger swallowtail. Not sure if you can look up what I can but I go to the area of Wisconsin Butterflys (I am in Wisconsin) and Garden with wings. Some of the black females have more blue on than others. I am not saying you are incorrect but the man at the Wisconsin Butterflys have always agreed with me when I used to post pictures there. So?????
Heh,heh,heh...well I am no expert on North American butterflies that's for sure, so I could be dead wrong. I only mentioned this because we have a yellow and black swallowtail butterfly that is present in the south of the country. I was looking it up and came across a piccy of a yellow and black butterfly present in North America--it was called a "Tiger Swallowtail", no doubt because tigers are sort of yellowish with black stripes. Well, that's where I got the idea from, and like I said, I may be way wrong. Anyhow whatever it's name--it is a gorgeous insect and your fantastic picture was a well-deserved winner this month. A BIG congrats to you. Wisconson--I did not know that. I had a friend that was just in Wisconson last week visiting her brother who lives in Racine. Small world.
Sjoerd...we have relatives living in Racine, Wisconsin too. It is a small world and with the internet it brings everyone closer...
