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 Eastern Tiger Swallowtail Butterfly

Tiger Swallowtail Butterfly
Papilio glaucus

The Tiger Swallowtail is widespread in eastern USA from the Great Lakes and New England south to Texas and Florida. The caterpillar has two false eyespots near the head to frighten predators.

One of my favourite butterflies, large - but not too large - and with attractive and colourful markings. Relatively easy to photograph, happy to sit still with wings open. This specimen was one of several that were sent to me as chrysalises by a butterfly breeder friend in the USA.

This was something of a design picture, I was trying to reflect the butterfly's triangular wings in the three main flower heads.

Family: Papilionidae
Genus: Papilio
Latin name: Papilio glaucus
Common name: Tiger Swallowtail