Good question. Spending most of my time at the coast, I don't get to study the large yellow and black swallowtails that much. I had to do some research after photographing this one.
There are a couple of things that are a little tricky -- its wings aren't completely open, so there isn't a great view of the hindwing (which would help). Also, I took this picture ~6 p.m. when it was starting to get dark. So the photo might be a little misleading. I agree that the butterfly looks pale in the photo, but in reality it appeared quite yellowish. (I can't remember, but I might have had a polarizer on the lens at the time, which also could have influenced the color. Eric saw the butterfly land and called me out to the backyard, so I just picked up the camera as it was and ran outside.)
I don't have a lot of experience with comparing Western Tiger Swallowtails and Pale Swallowtails, but here's why I went with Western Tiger Swallowtail on this one: (1) it was more yellowish than whitish; (2) the stripes were not as broad as I thought they should be for a Pale Swallowtail (i.e., there's still quite a bit of yellow showing on the forewings and hindwings); and (3) I'm not sure whether it's a solid character or not, but the long spot right above the tail appeared to be all yellow, rather than having some orange in it (I read on one website that all yellow spots in that area would be good for W. Tiger Swallowtail).
I'm open to other opinions, and I've heard these two species can be hard to tell apart, so let me know what you think!
4 comments:
Haiku for a tiger swallowtail:
From where willows are
tiger aloft,flap and float-
Bright jewel of spring!
Good one, Alexandra!
You inspired me to try, too:
among the green leaves
striped wings open to the sun
for one warm moment
:) Jackie
Hello,
I'm new to this commenting. Isn't this known as a Pale Swallowtail, with brighter yellow/less color on hind wings being the Tigers?
Margaret
Hi, Margaret!
Good question. Spending most of my time at the coast, I don't get to study the large yellow and black swallowtails that much. I had to do some research after photographing this one.
There are a couple of things that are a little tricky -- its wings aren't completely open, so there isn't a great view of the hindwing (which would help). Also, I took this picture ~6 p.m. when it was starting to get dark. So the photo might be a little misleading. I agree that the butterfly looks pale in the photo, but in reality it appeared quite yellowish. (I can't remember, but I might have had a polarizer on the lens at the time, which also could have influenced the color. Eric saw the butterfly land and called me out to the backyard, so I just picked up the camera as it was and ran outside.)
I don't have a lot of experience with comparing Western Tiger Swallowtails and Pale Swallowtails, but here's why I went with Western Tiger Swallowtail on this one: (1) it was more yellowish than whitish; (2) the stripes were not as broad as I thought they should be for a Pale Swallowtail (i.e., there's still quite a bit of yellow showing on the forewings and hindwings); and (3) I'm not sure whether it's a solid character or not, but the long spot right above the tail appeared to be all yellow, rather than having some orange in it (I read on one website that all yellow spots in that area would be good for W. Tiger Swallowtail).
I'm open to other opinions, and I've heard these two species can be hard to tell apart, so let me know what you think!
Thanks!
Jackie
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