Spicebush Swallowtail
Papilio troilus troilus

f25 @ 1/250s, ISO:2000, Nikon D3S w 105mm macro


"Papilio troilus," Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Papilio troilus, the spicebush swallowtail or green-clouded butterfly, is a common black swallowtail butterfly found in North America. It has two subspecies, Papilio troilus troilus and Papilio troilus ilioneus, the latter found mainly in the Florida peninsula. Typically, the wingspan of a spicebush swallowtail ranges from 3 to 4 inches (7.6 to 10.2 cm).[9] Adults are primarily black/brown in color, with a trademark green-blue (male) or bright blue (female) splotch in the shape of a half moon on the hindwings. The forewing has a border of cream-colored, oval spots. In the middle portion of the wing, the spots can be moon shaped and a light blue in color.[7] Both sexes have cream-yellow moon-shaped spots on the edges of the hindwings and a bright orange color spot at the base of the wings.
Francis A. Crane Wildlife Management Area, East Falmouth, Massachusetts
 
07/09/2022