Black Swallowtail Beauty 2020
by Karen Adams
Title
Black Swallowtail Beauty 2020
Artist
Karen Adams
Medium
Photograph - Fine Art Digital Prints - Photography
Description
This lovely little Black Swallowtail butterfly appeared in my Ohio garden In August 2020.
It is quite a beautiful specimen. This perspective shows the dorsal view of her wings.
The scientific name for this butterfly is Papilio polyxenes. The common name gives its obvious identifying feature that it is mostly black with the inner edge of the hindwing marked with a black spot centered in larger orange spot. The male has a yellow band near the edge of its wings, while the female has a row of yellow spots. The female also is marked with an iridescent blue band on the hindwing. The underside of their wings (ventral side that you see when they have their wings 'closed') varies between female and male as well, with the male having orange spots and the female mostly the yellow and blue. This is a female Black Swallowtail.
The size can vary on these butterflies between a wing Span of 3 1/4 - 4 1/4 inches.
Caterpillars are hungry creatures. The Black Swallowtail caterpillar loves host plants such as the leaves of plants in the parsley family (Apiaceae) including Queen Anne's Lace, carrot, celery and dill. Sometimes plants in the citrus family (Rutaceae) are preferred.
Adults like nectar from flowers including red clover, milkweed, and thistles.
My home is in a suburb and we have a large back yard that borders a protected wetlands area, a perfect place to see many types of butterflies. Black Swallowtails like a variety of open areas including fields, suburbs, marshes, deserts, and roadsides. They can be found in most of the eastern U.S., north into Quebec, west into Saskatchewan, Colorado, southeastern California and as far south as northern South America.
Thank you so much for looking at my images. I appreciate that very much.
I am very concerned with our environment and have decided to donate any money I make from any sales of this image to the ENVIRONMENTAL DEFENSE FUND.....because the Earth needs a good lawyer! We all need to speak up and support efforts to protect our environment. We will not get a second chance!
**The watermark stamp will not appear on any purchased items. All images are protected by copyright law and cannot be reproduced in any form without the express written consent of the artist.**
Uploaded
August 16th, 2020
Statistics
Viewed 234 Times - Last Visitor from Newport News, VA on 04/20/2024 at 3:58 AM
Embed
Share
Sales Sheet
Comments (16)
Sharon W
Ohhh gosh I am just in heaven viewing your butterflies! A perfect and stunning capture with so much great info!! Wonderful work dear Karen!!
Mikes Nature
Karen, to a fellow FAA member who also loved the butterflies and to my dismay had passed away in Oct - long after stupid me even thought of getting back to her site to comment on her images - I commend you on your work here! I’m glad you have your father to use for inspiration. May you continue to prosper in all your endeavors! Great work here Karen
Karen Adams replied:
Thank you so much, Mike. Butterflies, or birds or scenes of nature can tie us to ones we have lost here on earth. When we see them, we remember. I find your words amazing here since this was one of the last images I loaded on the FAA before my husband died suddenly . . so it makes me think of him too. They live when we remember
Aurelio Zucco
That is one stunning capture, Karen...amazing clarity...Wow, the detail is superb! L/F
John M Bailey
Congratulations on your feature in the Fine Art America Group "Images That Excite You!"
Greg Hayhoe
A beautiful; and striking image Karen. Great detail and focus. Bravo. It almost appears 3 dimensional. Thanks for showcasing another beautiful specimen. Your garden is a happening place...:-)
Karen Adams replied:
You said it, Greg! My garden is a happening place!! Just had baby turtles hatch! Didn't see 'em, just the empty eggs . . . . darn