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christie_sw_mo

Is this an aberrant swallowtail? Very pretty

christie_sw_mo
13 years ago

I took pictures of this today in my yard here in Missouri.

It didn't flutter its wings alot like a black swallowtail but it was starting to sprinkle and was overcast if that makes a difference.

I wish I had gotten a picture with its wings folded but I didn't get a chance.

I will link to another thread showing an aberrant swallowtail that I saw in 08 in my yard that was similar.

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Here is a link that might be useful: Another new Swallowtail for me

Comments (16)

  • butterflyman
    13 years ago

    Very interesting -
    Have you seen what are they using as a host plant?

  • christie_sw_mo
    Original Author
    13 years ago

    The three photos are of the same butterfly and I only saw it on the zinnias. It wasn't around very long. When it took off, it landed on my head for just an instant then flew behind me and I didn't see where it went. I searched my yard for quite awhile but it started sprinkling harder so I imagine it took shelter somewhere. Tomorrow's forecast says "mostly sunny" so maybe it will show up again and I can get some more photos.

    What do I need to get a better shot of to help id it?

  • runmede
    13 years ago

    Are you near a butterfly exhibit?

  • bandjzmom
    13 years ago

    My goodness, that is a very unusual and beautiful butterfly. Sort of puts you in mind of the Anise, but that isn't right either. Hmmm... wonder what in the world it is? I am sure that someone here will solve the mystery. Thanks for sharing the gorgeous pics!

  • bananasinohio
    13 years ago

    I think it is an aberrant black swallowtail. We had another thread here not too long ago about aberrant black swallowtails. They are a highly variable butterfly. If you put Papilio polyxenes into a google image search, you will see other images like yours.
    Cheers,
    Elisabeth

  • bandjzmom
    13 years ago

    I have done a lot of Googling, and cannot find a thing that even comes close to this. That light colored body is unique. I can't wait to hear about what all of you actual butterfly experts decide on this one. :o)

  • christie_sw_mo
    Original Author
    13 years ago

    Runmede - The closest exhibit to me that would have non-native butterflies is in Branson Missouri 50+ miles away.

    Elisabeth - The thread I linked above may be the one you were talking about.

    Patiently waiting for it to get sunny enough outside to go look for it again. : )

  • runmede
    13 years ago

    It almost looks like an Old World Swallowtail. I knew of a case where someone visited California and actually took this back with them to Florida because they thought they were taking Black Swallowtails. Boy were they surprised when they found out it wasn't. Both use parsley as a host.

    Looking at your pictures the tail looks tapered. It may be a male.

    Here is a link that might be useful: Swallowtail - Papilio machaon

  • MissSherry
    13 years ago

    Wow - another black swallowtail oddity for you, Christie!
    Makes me wonder if you've got a colony of them near you.
    Sherry

  • bandjzmom
    13 years ago

    Christie, Just out of curiosity, why don't you post this butterfly over at www.bugguide.net and ask for an ID. It would be interesting to get some more opinions.

  • bananasinohio
    13 years ago
  • bananasinohio
    13 years ago

    Whoops! I see you brought it up for our discussion on aberrants!
    Duh..
    Elisabeth

  • christie_sw_mo
    Original Author
    12 years ago

    This is from last year but Sherry's yellow bodied black Tiger made me think of it again.
    Ladobe - I don't think you were around when I posted this originally. I wanted you to see it.

  • ladobe
    12 years ago

    Christie,
    Thanks for the heads up (I hadn't seen this thread), and especially for reminding me about that thread three year ago. That one was a zoo and mostly a waste of time and effort, so lessons were learned. After so many years of doing so it's hard for me to not use taxonomic and entomological terms, and all but impossible for me to use common names. On Sherry's current thread I limited my replies to a few sentences and tried not to get too technical. Anyway, that old thread was my fault for trying to convey with only the written word as briefly as possible way too much info for the good folks here. With the bug in hand and my SC, in person it would have been easy to point out the differences and for them to be understood. As mostly home gardeners here who only see what's local and use species level field guides for reference, whats local to them is probably understandable and enough. What's actually common throught a species and its subspecies entire range is not easily understandable without deeper references or having seen it yourself as a well traveled lepidopterist. There is nothing wrong with just doing what's local, and probably is good enough for most here. I've learned deep discussion with only the written word doesn't very work well here. So I'll not make that mistake again and simply leave this thread at...
    Very nice pictures of a very pretty swallowtail. ;)
    Larry

  • christie_sw_mo
    Original Author
    12 years ago

    lol Thank you Larry! That's all that's expected. I think I would need several college classes to be able to understand and a lot of years of experience too.

  • imabirdnut
    12 years ago

    Could it be an Anise or an Old World Swallowtail? They look very similar except their bodies seem to be black instead of yellow.
    There is a marker on the map in Missouri for the Anise & the Old World on BAMONA. Maybe it is a mutant BST?

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