Tag Archive for 'Papilio multicaudata'

A pair of Two-tailed Swallowtails

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I put a bag of composted cotton bolls around some newly transplanted poppies, and gave the area a good soaking.   As soon as I was done, a pair of two-tailed swallowtails arrived and settled onto the compost. 

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Can you see that long proboscis?  The butterfly wasn’t looking for nectar, or for fresh water.  It wanted that dank old compost water.

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Here’s another probocis shot.  This butterfly was working it for a long time.  He pushed and poked with his probocis, angling to get more of that compost juice.

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A second one arrived, and the two of them stayed close together and seemed to thoroughly enjoy their treat. 

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I’m sure I’ll get over this fascination with probocises at some point, but here’s two at once.   And look how segmented that antennae is! 

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They flew off together, circling each other, and then they were gone.