Photo: Diane Edwardson, March 27, 2010. The Swallowtail Butterfly looks pretty beat up, which could be why I could get close enough for a good shot. (Click on photo to enlarge.)According to UC Irvine, this appears to be an Anise Swallowtail Butterfly (Papilio zelicaon). Unfortunately the light wasn't right to catch the vibrant blue spots or the red and yellow eyespot on the tail. But when it took off there the blue spots were much more apparent.
There have been lots of butterflies all over the neighborhood for the past few weeks. A variety of Swallowtail Butterflies live in the neighborhood, including the more dramatically patterned Tiger Swallowtail.
Swallowtails are not endangered. Click here for the UC Berkeley guide to endangered California insects.
If you have photos of neighborhood wildlife, birds or insects, send them to us: redcarproperty@gmail.com.
