New this winter: Weekly Butterfly ID Game!

Each week we will post two images. One is the butterfly in question and the other will be an imposter. Can you pick the right one? Join us for this fun game each week on the forum.

Here’s the first one! Log your vote below the image. And no cheating with eButterfly computer vision!

Black Swallowtail - Left or Right?

  • Left
  • Right
0 voters
1 Like

With this week’s quiz looming… anyone care to drop in here the reason to choose left? And does anyone want to ID the one on the right? Super work everyone! I bet you can’t wait until this week’s quiz drops on Friday!

The Black Swallowtail is on the left! Notice the complete line of orange spots on the wing which is incomplete on the butterfly on the right. You likely won’t be getting them confused in the field - the Black Swallowtail is much more common in Vermont and likes to visit flowers in open fields while the butterfly on the right, the Spicebush Swallowtail, prefers wooded areas and has only been seen a handful of times in the state (mostly around Brattleboro).

2 Likes

I still need Spicebush Swallowtail on my Vermont life list! I guess I will have to remedy that next summer someplace in southern Vermont! I was looking at our habitat suitability map here on our species page to see where I have the best chance! Species Profile | Vermont Atlas of Life