Palamedes swallowtail ( Papilio palamedes )
Big Cypress National Preserve
Southern Florida
USA
Several of these butterflies were flying around close to the gravel road I was on and stopping to sip on something on the road. They would stay for several minutes and then leave, then return. By sipping moisture from mud puddles, butterflies take in salts and minerals from the soil in this case the road. The butterfly had been thru hard times with badly tattered wings.
Papilio palamedes, the Palamedes swallowtail or laurel swallowtail, is a North American butterfly in the family Papilionidae.
The wingspan ranges from 4 1⁄2 to 5 1⁄8 inches.
This species may be found in habitats such as cypress swamplands, coastal swamplands, wet riparian forests, bay forests, and savannas.
The Palamedes swallowtail is encountered from May to October in southeastern Virginia and from March to December in more southern regions. In Mexico it is represented by subspecies P. p. leontis.
Males seek females by patrolling near forest edges and forest openings. In courtship, the male and female will fly about a foot apart, slowly flying together in unison. The male will then fly above and behind the female to disperse his pheromones and he will continue to do this until the female decides to mate with him. - Wikipedia
Palamedes swallowtail ( Papilio palamedes )
Big Cypress National Preserve
Southern Florida
USA
Several of these butterflies were flying around close to the gravel road I was on and stopping to sip on something on the road. They would stay for several minutes and then leave, then return. By sipping moisture from mud puddles, butterflies take in salts and minerals from the soil in this case the road. The butterfly had been thru hard times with badly tattered wings.
Papilio palamedes, the Palamedes swallowtail or laurel swallowtail, is a North American butterfly in the family Papilionidae.
The wingspan ranges from 4 1⁄2 to 5 1⁄8 inches.
This species may be found in habitats such as cypress swamplands, coastal swamplands, wet riparian forests, bay forests, and savannas.
The Palamedes swallowtail is encountered from May to October in southeastern Virginia and from March to December in more southern regions. In Mexico it is represented by subspecies P. p. leontis.
Males seek females by patrolling near forest edges and forest openings. In courtship, the male and female will fly about a foot apart, slowly flying together in unison. The male will then fly above and behind the female to disperse his pheromones and he will continue to do this until the female decides to mate with him. - Wikipedia