I’ve referred to this type of butterfly as a Black Swallowtail before, but have learned it is probably a Palamedes Swallowtail.
Either way, this one put on a nice show for me while he was getting some sustenance from statice growing at the edge of a pond.
I was able to shift a little and get a different background that was all vegetation.
Donnelley Wildlife Management Area, Green Pond, SC
August 27, 2023
The same bush but a different day than when I saw the Black Swallowtail Upside Down there were two Yellow Swallowtails vying for the same feeding spot.
Carefully working around each flower orb, they never hold still for long.
Finally, having the spot to himself this butterfly spread full winged.
Lastly, an image showing off more of the flowers than the butterfly.
August 4, 2020
Red was the favorite for this Palamedes Swallowtail as he zipped around the brilliant Lantana blossoms.
This garden area had some orange and pink zinnias and other annuals but this butterfly kept coming back to the red.
Head on images of wildlife rarely end up looking good, but I liked this view with the wings folded and antennae out.
The butterfly then turned a bit to the side showing off his long legs. If you zoom in you can see he’s picked up some pollen in his travels, too.
Click any image for a larger view.
Magnolia Plantation and Gardens, August 27, 2019.
Azaleas have been planted all around the swamp, many of them bloom off and on through the summer, despite the heat. This reddish colored one was a perfect complement to a Swallowtail Butterfly.
The flowers must have been providing some nourishment as the Butterfly kept going around the bush.
He went deep into each blossom, his head disappearing behind the petals.
Then he gracefully backed out before moving on.
Butterflies do not know that Mimosa Trees are invasive and this Swallowtail happily partook of the pink fluffballs these trees are known for.
The flowers have a sweet smell that can be overpowering but this late afternoon a breeze was blowing it away from me.
The butterfly bounced along at the top of the tree then disappeared into another flower grouping in the shade.
These large red flowers are so flashy I almost didn’t see the butterfly. I believe the flower is a Texas Star Hibiscus, which grow wild around the edges of my favorite swamp.
The butterfly was intensely inspecting the flowers, but he didn’t stay with any one blossom for more than a moment.
An unopened bloom got its share of attention as the butterfly probed up under the flower’s sepals.
That wasn’t very satisfying, either, and he quickly moved on.
Many of the Buttonbush trees that were so popular with the butterflies in this area last July have died, and those that didn’t have very few blossoms. The harsh weather we had in January may have too much for them.
These flowers look awful small to offer much to a butterfly but this one persisted, moving steadily from flower to flower. The lack of leaves on this plant gave me a clear view.
He rotated and showed me every side while he was doing it.
Even upside down!
He easily walked across the tops of the flowers.
And hung off the side.
I believe the plant is Brazilian Vervain (Verbena brasiliensis), a non-native plant that grows wild along roadsides, in disturbed areas, old fields. (NameThatPlant.net, A storehouse of information about native and naturalized plants of the Carolinas and Georgia.)
