100 More Species #53: Spicebush swallowtail

[urbpan]

Spicebush swallowtail Papilio troilus

This butterfly somehow got past the bird netting to get into our vegetable garden, but couldn't get out. I caught it and removed it, and it was exhausted enough by the experience that it posed for this picture. At first I was excited that such a large and impressive butterfly came to visit, but then I began to dread the identification process. Don't get me wrong, I usually love the challenge of identifying a living thing, comparing lookalikes and finding the telltale field marking. Unfortunately I don't seem to be tuned into butterflies--as you saw with the previous entry. This butterfly is one of a complex of at least four species that mimic one another with the purpose of confusing predators--enough of them are bad tasting to protect all of them.

These two photos together were enough for the real experts to determine that it was the black form of the Eastern tiger swallowtail--no wait! It's a pipevine swallowtail--No no no I mean a female spicebush swallowtail, definitely a female spicebush. Definitely NOT a red-spotted purple, which doesn't have the swallow tails. This played out over a couple days on bugguide and facebook. Finally after staring at this guide long enough, I agreed. Now I have to find the other three species in the yard.