 |
| One of the best butterfly moments of my nature-watching season this year started with this spicebush swallowtail on a buddleia flower. Click to enlarge. |
 |
| A male flew into the picture. |
 |
| Note the jauntily curled proboscis on this guy. |
 |
| He immediately broke into a beautiful courtship flight around her, fluttering and flashing his wings. I'm sure that butterfly pheromones were flying through the air, too. |
 |
| She fluttered in place, and after a few minutes, they flew out of my view together. I wish them a family of healthy caterpillars. Spicebush swallowtails are not long-distance migrators. In places with cold winters, like here, they overwinter as pupae and emerge as beautiful butterflies in spring. |
