Observation date: June 01, 2025
Submitted by: ezeemonee
Specimen type: Photograph
Observation notes: Near Rawhide Trail at White Ranch Park. Partly cloudy day in the 70’s F. This one was chasing a Black Swallowtail around but was only able to get the pic of this one.
Status: Resident
Verified by: mikefisher
Verified date: June 08, 2025
Coordinator notes: Your ID is correct...a male...this and the black one "chasing" are actually flaiting for females at their genetic mating site (usually on or near a hilltop...in these butterflies. "Flait" means Fly (Fl) and wait (ait)...they fly off the ground or vegetation as you records in your photos to investigate butterflies flying past them to see if it is a female with which it can mate. The black one might have been the black form of zelicaon which is the Nitra Swallowtail...but more commonly they are the Eastern Black Swallowtail (Papilio polyxenes asterius). Mike
