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Spicebush Swallowtail

Papilio troilus

Photo by HeatherMiller
Published on Project Noah
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33.7748, -84.2963

Field Notes

Description:

I had this labeled as an Eastern Swallowtail,
http://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/species/Papilio-polyxenes
Related Spotting: http://www.projectnoah.org/spottings/7018107
but comments from KeithRoragen "The uninterrupted row of orange spots on the hind wing suggests Black Swallowtail" seem to be the best easy distinction between the Eastern Swallowtail and the Spicebush Swallowtail I've seen. http://bugguide.net/node/view/2648
Thanks for the ID help all....

Notes:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_Swallowtail
vs
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spicebush_Swallowtail

Reference Links:

Black Swallowtail

Species ID Suggestions

Comments (7)
HeatherMiller
@Keith - of course you make a difference. :-) It is nice when people recognize that difference though.
annorion
@KeithRoragen - Definitely! I've noted several of your suggestions on the Spicebush, Pipevine, and Black Swallowtail as I have been trying to figure out which is which in a set of pictures I took in the Ozarks recently. There were so many and at first glance they look about the same but not exactly I just couldn’t figure out what that “not exactly” was. I think hints like the one you provided can be most educational especially when identifying organisms that look so much alike. Thanks and keep sharing!!
HeatherMiller
Thanks Annorion and by extension KeithRoragen for the differences between the two. These two butterfly species have been discussed at length on Project Noah.
annorion
I think this might be a spicebush....check out this spotting http://www.projectnoah.org/spottings/7113879 KeithRoragen made an interesting note about the difference between the spicebush and black swallowtail.

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Butterflies & Moths of the World
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2011 Best Wildlife Photo

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Photographed
PublishedAugust 25, 2011

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