Two-tailed Swallowtail
Papilio multicaudata
Observed at Mesquite Wash, Maricopa Co., Arizona, USA. 4 August 2013. Notice the neat triangle broken out of the right forewing. This is a freshly emerged butterfly - maybe a day old - and already it's had a close call with a bird's beak. In a few weeks, the wings will be well-tattered and barely able to lift the insect into the air.
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This and the Giant Swallowtail vie for being the largest of butterflies in the USA. A large spectacular insect that patrols sycamore canyon bottoms through much of Arizona, the Two-tailed Swallowtail flies fast and is on the wing from April to October. The larvae can be found on Velvet Ash (Fraxinus velutina) and occasionally other trees.
Papilionidae -- Swallowtail Butterfly Family
More Information:
- Bugguide Iowa State University
- Encyclopedia of Life
- Butterflies and Mothes of North America
- Google Images
- Google Scholar Literature Search