Butterflies
This large butterfly has black wings with yellow markings and a wingspan of 8-11 cm. The male displays a row of bold yellow spots, while the female’s spots are faded shades of yellow and blue. The Black Swallowtail’s colors mimic those of other similar species, such as the Giant or Pipevine Swallowtails. To identify the Black Swallowtail, look for a pair of black dots centered in larger orange circles on the inner edge of the hind wings. The Black Swallowtail caterpillar changes appearance each time it molts. In the last few stages of growth, it is white and green, with black bands and yellow or orange spots.
The Tiger Swallowtail butterfly (Papilio glaucas) is a strong flier with distinctive yellow and black striped markings on its wings and body (some females are brown or black, mimicking the poisonous pipevine swallowtail). This relatively common butterfly has a wingspan of 3.5-6.5 inches (9-16.5 cm). Southern subspecies are larger than the northern ones. These butterflies are called swallowtails because they have long "tails" on their hindwings which look a bit like the long, pointed tails of swallows (a type of bird).