A rare shot of a pair of black swallowtails mating. The female has her wings spread and the male's wings are closed. The female will soon be looking for some parsley, fennel, carrot or similar plants to lay her eggs. This species is found throughout the eastern United States and even south in the mountains to Peru. The female (but not the male) is one of the "black and blue" swallowtails that mimics the toxic pipevine swallowtail and thus likely obtains some protection from predatory birds.
- Photo credit: William Dunson
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A rare shot of a pair of black swallowtails mating. The female has her wings spread and the male’s wings are closed.
