Saturday, June 13, 2009

Anise Swallowtail & Old World Swallowtail

More shots from my last trip to the Butterfly Pavilion. This is the Anise Swallowtail. What a pretty little thing this is. Since this exhibit is on display through August or September, I thought they must have new shipments brought in periodically to replace the butterflies.


They're so fragile and so short. I learned that they actually "grow" these butterflies in the museum and when they've emerged from their crysallis and have stretched their wings, they bring them down to the Pavillion. I would love to get a look inside of that room.


I thought this was an interesting tidbit of info. Like all swallowtail caterpillars, if disturbed, it will suddenly evert bright orange osmeteria (or "stinkhorns") from just behind its head, glandular structures which give off a foul odor. (Quoted from Wikipedia.)



Oops! Wait. Now that I'm looking at this, the body is a different color than the Anise. I don't think this last shot is the same butterfly. LOL! I have to go look this last one up. Okay. The one above is an Old World Swallowtail. That calls for one more photo.


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31 comments:

DeniseinVA said...

Fascinating! I just love to visit butterfly houses. You've got some incredible shots here. Have a great weekend.

Unknown said...

Wonderful photos with great tidbits of info.

SAPhotographs (Joan) said...

Fantastic macros and info TB. Our swallowatils caterpillars put out those horns too.

Snap said...

Just beautiful! Great shots. I love butterfly pavilions. Thanks for the info, too!

George said...

Regardless of which butterfly it is, all of these photos are simply fantastic. It's interesting that the pavilion grow their own butterflies, but I guess it makes sense.

Julie said...

Beautiful shots and the music is wonderful to listen to while looking at them.

Sandy Kessler said...

no comparison in beauty

Carletta said...

Excellent shots!

I few years before I finished teaching we raised butterflies during summer school. The students got to release them the last day. A great experience for all of us.

My post is here: Carletta’s Captures.

Samantha ~ Holly and Zac ~ said...

They are beautiful. I do love butterfly's. Great shot's.

Anonymous said...

So beautiful - Lovely lovely shots! If it's the same one, then beautiful "flutterby" & if it's another one, then beautiful "flutterby's"

Clueless in Boston said...

Beautiful butterflies. The colors in the wings are truly spectacular.

Corner Gardener Sue said...

Beautiful butterfly photos! I love all the details! You are good at holding the camera still, or did you use a tripod? My camera always has the signal that the camera is shaking. I need to learn to use a tripod.

Martha said...

These are so beautiful! Sorry I haven't been by to visit lately, your blog is one I've been having trouble accessing through Internet Explorer. I finally downloaded firefox to use for those I haven't been able to view.

Martha said...

Don't worry, it's not an issue of too much stuff on your blog that has kept me from accessing your blog - it's definitely an internet Explorer issue. Most people have switched to Firefox. I have it too but still usually access everything through AOL - old habits are hard to change!

magiceye said...

stunning captures all!!

Have started a new meme Pet Pride where you can display your or your friends' pets every week beginning every Sunday! Do join in and share your pet pride with the world!

Mike said...

Thats a really beauty, nice pics.

FO - 2 said...

Wonderful shots! :)
Fantastic.

I just love the blue color on this butterfly.....! :)

Susan said...

Absolutely Gorgeous!

Anonymous said...

Brilliant photos! Love your butterfly shots.

Paz

Anonymous said...

Wonderful shots. I love the way these turned out.

Regina said...

Fantastic. I love butterflies.

Dagrun said...

Really beautiful!! Fantastic colours! (I do not see a difference... did you find out whether it was a different one?)

Bim said...

I've been to the hatchery in the butterfly house near my place. They're all hanging tidily on sticks until they're ready (I've took some shots in the hatchery but haven't posted them yet). I wondered about their wings, so am grateful for your story below...even though I'm sad for the little guy.
Needless to say: your butterfly photos are lovely :)

Kerri Farley said...

They are both absolutely stunning! Your pics of them are amazing!!! WOW!

EG CameraGirl said...

How clever of you to take your camera to a butterfly pavillion!

A tigr swallowtail has been flapping its wings through my gardens lately but , unfortunately, it never stays anywhere long enough for me to catch its image!

Anonymous said...

Very nice photos. The last one reminded me of a zebra swallowtail but I am almost sure it isn't a zebra. The colors and stripes are not quite right. The ones I have seen have extra long tails.

Eve said...

These are gorgeous!!

Ebie said...

Wonderful! Thank you for the information, we went there yesterday. But there were just a few, and some had damaged wings. And there were less cocoon, so I do not know how they will replenish them. I saw a lot of monarchs. But they are just so fleeting.

Tammie Lee said...

These are incredible macros and gorgeous butterfly images!

Unknown said...

Absoloutely beautiful...

This Is My Blog - fishing guy said...

T: Very nice captures of a neat butterfly, really cool macros.