A Brush Of Blue

Spicebush Swallowtails are some of the prettiest butterflies that visit our zinnia garden. They are common in appearance to several other dark colored swallowtails, but they have one tell-tale feature that makes them easy to identify…though you often cannot see it until you can freeze the action in a photo!

If you look at the picture below, you’ll see that there are two rows of orange dots on the underside of their wings, but that one of those dots (the third from the bottom) is smudged out. It’s as if an artist took a bit of blue paint and brushed over it!

On the upper side of their wings, the male has a patch of powdery blue color while the female (like the one in this next shot) has a brighter blue coloring at the base.

I always love to get a picture of one with its “tongue” (technically called a proboscis) all curled up, which is typically how they carry it when they fly.

I think these butterflies, especially when posing on a brilliantly colored zinnia, are absolutely beautiful!

There is less bird activity in the summer heat, so it’s nice to have the Swallowtails to hang out with!

Published by kathydoremus

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Amateur nature "photogriter." One who still marvels at majesty.

15 thoughts on “A Brush Of Blue”

  2. The entire realm of all that wonder entails is looking at this distinctive-looking worm munching on our parsley and knowing that in due time it will instead be a free-flying Tiger Swallowtail. It does make me wonder about what our own metamorphosis will be, for if that happens to them, then….? I love these photographs so much, and your descriptions of their colourations. Thank you!

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