Black Swallowtail

Male black swallowtail butterfly

Black Swallowtails were scarce this summer, making it a real treat to capture this male as it paused briefly to gather nectar before continuing on its journey.

Predators and survival

Birds are among the primary predators of swallowtail butterflies, often hunting them during the caterpillar stage, though birds may sometimes mistake monarch butterflies for swallowtails—an unfortunate error since monarchs are toxic to birds. (Source: What’s That Bug?)

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