Tag Archives: Black Swallowtail

Black Swallowtail on Butterfly Bush

Helping the Butterfly Bush live up to its name a Black Swallowtail was enjoying the blooms.

Black Swallowtail
Black Swallowtail, Canon 100-400 mm Lens at 158mm

I may have mentioned this before, but I have not seen many butterflies of any kind so far this summer.

Black Swallowtail
Black Swallowtail, Canon 100mm Macro Lens

This one was a real beauty and a light breeze did not deter him from feeding.

Black Swallowtail
Black Swallowtail, Canon 100mm Macro Lens

Black Swallowtail Butterfly on Thistle, Year 2

About a mile or so from where I saw the Black Swallowtail Butterflies for my post from March of 2020 I saw a similar scene April 12.

Black Swallowtail Butterfly on Thistle
Black Swallowtail Butterfly on Thistle

This year’s thistle flowers were a bit past their prime.

Black Swallowtail Butterfly on Thistle
Black Swallowtail Butterfly on Thistle

And the butterfly was showing some signs of wear, or a battle.

Black Swallowtail Butterfly on Thistle
Black Swallowtail Butterfly on Thistle

The wing tears did not impair his mobility, as he nimbly circled around the plant checking each of the spidery blooms.

Black Swallowtail Butterfly on Thistle
Black Swallowtail Butterfly on Thistle

Black Swallowtail Butterfly on Thistle

A patch of thistle was growing at the edge of a parking area at Santee National Wildlife Refuge, Cuddo Unit. I suspect it was planted or at least encouraged by human intervention: it was a little too neat to be just wild.

Black Swallowtail Butterfly on Thistle
Black Swallowtail Butterfly on Thistle, Bee Photobomber

An assortment of insects were working the thistle blooms, with a Black Swallowtail standing out.

Black Swallowtail Butterfly on Thistle
Black Swallowtail Butterfly on Thistle

The blooms were in all stages of development, some well on their way to releasing seeds for a new crop.

Black Swallowtail Butterfly on Thistle
Black Swallowtail Butterfly on Thistle