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Black Swallowtail (male)

Papilio polyxenes asterius

Photo by nexttogone
Published on Project Noah
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29.7252, -99.0742

Field Notes

Description:

http://www.naba.org/chapters/nabast/polyxenes.html

Habitat:

http://bugguide.net/node/view/92941/bgimage

Notes:

Found in my waterfall garden.

Reference Links:

Subspecies Papilio polyxenes asterius - Black Swallowtail - BugGuide.Net

Species ID Suggestions

Short-tailed Swallowtail

Papilio brevicauda

Reference Link
AgnesAdiqueTalavera
1

Comments (9)
nexttogone
Fixed. Thank you Agnes.... I'm usually just brain dead by the time I sign in here. LOL
nexttogone
Thank you, lauret.thierry.5. @ Agnes.... I can see several more similarities and from what I can gather, the markings vary greatly between specimens so I changed it. (Sorry but I was trying to go to bed last night.) From what I can gather, mine is a male. Is that what you understood too? Thank you Agnes!! ") ") ")
AgnesAdiqueTalavera
Yes, P. brevicauda looks really close, although range is a problem - http://www.nic.funet.fi/pub/sci/bio/life/insecta/lepidoptera/ditrysia/papilionoidea/papilionidae/papilioninae/papilio/index.html But pls take a look also at this male P. polyxenes asterius from Texas, I think it is also a close match - http://www.naba.org/chapters/nabast/polyxenes.html
nexttogone
Hey Agnes... I am having difficulties in detecting the differences but lean more to your first suggestion. I would be W. USA and the Short-tailed really doesn't give a range either. I'm stumped.
AgnesAdiqueTalavera
Hi next! Pls check Papilio polyxenes asterius, Black Swallowtail (Range: Canada, E USA, S to El Salvador) - http://www.butterfliesofamerica.com/t/Papilio_polyxenes_asterius_a.htm
nexttogone
Thank you Agnes. ") I went with it as the markings do bare a striking resemblance. But as far as I can tell, it is strictly a Canadian butterfly. We'll see what others think too.

Spotted for Missions

Mission
Butterflies & Moths of the World
Mission
Nature In Your Texas Backyard!
Mission
Biodiversity of Texas

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Photographed
PublishedMarch 13, 2013

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