#two-tailed swallowtail

[lichen-soup-scribe]

I've been watching this two-tailed swallowtail caterpillar grow up on my wild cherry and was lucky enough to spot it in its final instar, when it turned brown, left home and started looking for a good place to pupate. It obligingly demonstrated its impressive defense display for me, complete with wafts of stink from its osmeterium (the forked orange glands on its head).

It'll be spending the winter in its pupa in a nice roomy jar in my garage -- I'll make sure to take pics when it finally ecloses and I let it free to make more caterpillars!

Here are some more baby pics, ordered from earliest to most recent. The leaves in the first three pictures are all about the same size. You can see how its early stages mimicked bird poop.

[tetramodal]

Swallowtail Acrylic on canvas 8x8". 
Charles Morgenstern, 2022. 
A two-tailed swallowtail on a Mexican sunflower.

[trubluebecca]

I whipped up these two pieces for a local small format art show. Both are based on photos I took in my yard this year. I was planning to do something with the butterfly image from the time I took it, but the baby lizard on the blanket flowers came together really quick and I actually liked how it turned out much better than the butterfly. Maybe I'll give the butterfly another attempt one day.

[bugkeeping]

Two-tailed Swallowtail (Papilio multicaudata)

[tetramodal]

Butterfly Charles Morgenstern, 2021. A two-tailed swallowtail on a red torch Mexican sunflower in Colorado Springs, Colorado.

[shadovvlurking]

[kenneturner]

Two-tailed Swallowtail Butterfly Mixed Art

Two-tailed Swallowtail Butterfly Mixed Art

Two-tailed Swallowtail Butterfly — Mixed Art by kenne If you have a past with which you feel dissatisfied,then forget it, now.Imagine a new story for your life and believe in it.Focus only on the momentswhen you achieved what you desired,and that strength will help youto get what you want. — Paulo Coelho

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[kenneturner]

Perfect Landing Two-Tailed Swallowtail -- Photo-Artistry by kenne A perfect landing This beauty can do no wrong Two-tailed swallowtail. -- kenne