Eastern Black Swallowtails

These are two of several Eastern Black Swallowtails that overwintered in our garage in the pupa (chrysalis) stage. They emerged this past spring and brought us great joy! Aren't they lovely? If I had a favorite North American butterfly..., this would probably be it! These butterflies were the first species we ever raised indoors 12 some years ago.

This little sweetheart is a female. You can usually tell quite quickly by looking at the hind wings. Here, you will notice a wide row of blue, shimmery markings, indicating a female.

Here's a handsome little guy. Notice the thinner row of blue and the wider row of yellow? This easily tells you from a distance it is a male.

There are times, however, when it's hard to tell which is which. If you are up close and can see the tip of its abdomen, you can sex it. If it has claspers (where the tip of the abdomen is slightly divided), it's a male. If not, it's a female.

You can sex many species of butterflies this way, but not all. In some species, females can also be larger than males, like in Morning Cloaks, but on some others you might have to count their "toes"!

In case you're wondering, that beautiful pink flowering plant is a Spring Cactus (Rhipsalidopis gaertneri). I bought it at Walmart for the butterflies. (Like I really needed an excuse or another plant!)

The male is on a lilac, one of many we have growing in our yard. Want some? I'm just so thankful I'm not allergic to those flowers, any more, as they are super butterfly nectaring plants in the springtime! --LKR