American Black - _TNY_6566
Another beauty from the Haga Ocean butterfly house in Solna, Sweden.
This dark stunner is an eastern black swallowtail (Papilio polyxenes), also known as black swallowtail, American swallowtail, parsnip swallowtail, parsley swallowtail, celery worm, and caraway worm.
The species is from what I understand really quite common for a swallowtail, but to me it still looks bloody exotic!
Since I live an ocean away from these I have never shot a caterpillar, but from I gather, they look very similar (in all instar stages) to the old world swallowtail (Papilio machaon) which I have many shots of - like this one: www.flickr.com/photos/tinyturtle/29253287772/
American Black - _TNY_6566
Another beauty from the Haga Ocean butterfly house in Solna, Sweden.
This dark stunner is an eastern black swallowtail (Papilio polyxenes), also known as black swallowtail, American swallowtail, parsnip swallowtail, parsley swallowtail, celery worm, and caraway worm.
The species is from what I understand really quite common for a swallowtail, but to me it still looks bloody exotic!
Since I live an ocean away from these I have never shot a caterpillar, but from I gather, they look very similar (in all instar stages) to the old world swallowtail (Papilio machaon) which I have many shots of - like this one: www.flickr.com/photos/tinyturtle/29253287772/