Observation date: August 13, 2019
Submitted by: WINGSaloftinKS
Specimen type: Photograph
Observation notes: Dark morph female, SO HUGE, bigger than the Giant Swallowtail I saw the other day. Was flying in and through the butterfly flower bed at the county extension demonstration gardens, mostly feeding on the Joe-Pye Weed, flying through it and landing on different blossoms. Watched it for about 15 minutes doing this. At one point, it and the black swallowtail I also saw flew up in the sky together, and the black swallowtail was majorly dwarfed by the size of this butterfly. Best part was towards the end of my time watching it when it let me get the closest I've ever gotten to a large butterfly that's feeding before, with it being about 3" from my face, just watching it! Size: Approx. 6" wingspan, if not larger, biggest butterfly I've ever seen. Weather: 89 degrees, 56% humidity, sunny skies.
Status: Resident
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: August 14, 2019
Coordinator notes: None.
