This black form female tiger swallowtail has been spending hours nectaring on my White Profusion butterfly bush for the past couple of days. She's huge, probably 7" across! I've been seeing a male, too, but he hasn't nectared in my garden, at least not that I've seen - he's big, but not as big as she it. I hope the female will lay some eggs down low enough that I can find the eggs or cats!
Here's a picture of the big gal - maybe the male will nectar so I can get his picture, too!

Sherry

Marvelous, absolutely beautiful !

Lee

USDA Zone9 Fl

Miss Sherry,
I havn't seen any pale Western Tiger Swallowtails here. Saw two in S Oregon. Do you take pictures with thinking first then when positive you go in for the money shot. Roommate MIke always tells me to shoot first for proof then for accuracy quality. My Canon 620 Sureshot has over 30 millimeter. Next Canon will be a professional Canon E05.


ALberto1444

Wow!! She's a beaut! I see them while I'm driving all the time, but not in the yard yet.

Arlan
USDA Zone 8b
Lower Alabama

Beautiful Miss Sherry.

Dianne
Southeast Alabama
Heat Zone 8
Sunset Zone 31

Thanks, y'all!
I'm especially fond of the big female tiger swallowtails - they're the biggest butterflies I get here, bigger even than giant swallowtails.
Sherry

Oooooooooooooh!!! I had no idea they'd get that big! What a wingspan! Sure would love to see one of those here

The only thing even remotely that size I've seen around here is the black witch moth...and that only had a 6" wingspan.

Lovely photo indeed! Thanks for sharing