Saturday, August 1, 2009

Giant Swallowtail Butterfly Close Ups

Here is another swallowtail I found on Thursday. The Giant Swallowtails are of the largest found in the United States with wing spans of up to 6 inches.



I found the outside of the wings were much more interesting than the inside spread.



What drew me to find him was the flutter-hover manuever he was doing as he drank from the flower. The wings flapped in a wave from top wings to bottom wings at a very fast flutter. It was really cool to watch.



Even though I find the outside wings more colorful, the inside spread has quite an interesting pattern.

6 comments:

Carol said...

Nice photos. I have a hard time getting good ones because they have such a fast flutter and very seldom sit with a nice spread.

www.wildlifearoundus.blogspot.com

Tami Weingartner said...

What a lovely group of shots! Hopin' to spend part of Sunday chasing down butterflies!

Ruth's Photo Blog said...

Anyway you look at it, this is a beauty.Another Butterfly we don't have here.Thanks for such lovely photos.
Blessings,Ruth

Eve said...

Hannibal you did a beautiful job capturing this Giant! I am lucky enough to be able to have seen this butterfly several times. In fact I sent in the first documented record of one in my county in NY! The next year they were everywhere! This has to be my all time favorite butterfly!

Montanagirl said...

Stunning captures! He is beautiful.

TitusL said...

Wow Great Post,
thought you might like my machinima film the butterfly's tale~
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y1fO8SxQs-E
Bright Blessings
elf ~