I have always called this butterfly the eastern black swallowtail. I understand that it in no longer widely called the eastern black swallowtail these days though. Most people just call it the black swallowtail. Although some call it an American swallowtail or parsnip swallowtail.

I raised this one last year. It pupated and overwintered in protective custody on my lanai. I had actually forgotten about this and a couple of other chrysalis' that were out there on my zz plant. I still have a goldrim butterfly and I believe a giant swallowtail butterfly chrysalis out there and hope they too, made it safely thought the winter and will eclose soon.

The caterpillars for the black swallowtail are really pretty but they are rather clumsy and are difficult to raise. I have no intention of raising them this year, but we will see how that goes :)

I have parsley, lots of parsley, in the yard as the host plant and a new plant I recently purchased for the bog from sweet bay nursery. Sweet bay is my nearest native plant nursery. The helpful staff suggested the bog plant since I told them I have a bog and was looking for butterfly host plants during our conversations. I should have written down the name of that plant but I did not and now I don't even know what it is. Anyway, the plant is supposed to reseed itself and be highly attractive to the black swallowtail. It's also supposed help the caterpillars with their primary defense against predators. That would be to make them taste and smell bad so nothing wants to eat them.

I am wondering if it's just me or if everyone is having trouble with posting replies to comments on flickr these days. I am not ignoring everyone that has been giving me feedback and comments on my images, I just keep getting a message saying my comment can't be posted :(

I would like to say that I certainly do appreciate the comments that are left regarding my images. I also appreciate the faves. Thanks so much!

Eastgate Park, Meridian Township, MI.

Shot with single off-camera strobe (Leica SF 60/Leica SF C1 trigger), hand held, modified with MagMod MagSphere, TTL monitoring.

Sarcophaga sp on a damp thistle seedhead

Christine Reiman Butterfly Wing, Reiman Garden, Iowa State University, Ames Iowa

Taken at Barton Marina, Staffordshire.

Thank you to everyone who views, faves or comments on my photos, it is always appreciated.

Ochlodes sylvanus Settled on a Yellow-rattle flowerhead

bee brother from another mother

Frederik Meijer Gardens

Thanks for views, comments and favs:)

A Mating pair getting ready to return to the water to lay eggs.

At Meijer Gardens

Thanks for views, comments and favs :)

A small butterfly alights on an even smaller flower to feed.

The bush daisy is one of the newer plants in my garden, the monarchs really love it and I am glad to have it. I purchased 6 of these for habitat enhancement. They are still sitting in pots so I can move them around and decide where to place them. That does not stop the monarchs from enjoying them though.

the Peacock butterfly exhibits many anti-predator defence mechanisms against would-be predators. The peacock butterfly's most obvious defence comes from the four large eyespots that it has on its wings. It also uses camouflage and can emit a hissing sound.

The Peacock butterfly can be found in woods, fields, meadows, pastures, parks, and gardens, from lowlands up to 2,500 metres (8,200 ft) elevation. It is a relatively common butterfly, seen in many European parks and gardens. The peacock male exhibits territorial behaviour, in many cases territories being selected en route of the females to oviposition sites.

Small Skipper (Thymelicus sylvesttris)

I learned today the difference between the damsel fly and the dragonfly. So delicate and I was happy to capture its color in softly muted grey-blue.