Reptile & Amphibian Forums

So i go to the lake and was able to take several shots of this i believe to be a white tiger swallow tail? Anyone know for sure? Tried to look on net but no luck. I live in N calif.

Nice shot! There is some variation on the markings of the zebra swallowtail so if you look at photos online (or elsewhere) you may see some differences. The length of the "tail" can vary, too.

>>Nice shot! There is some variation on the markings of the zebra swallowtail so if you look at photos online (or elsewhere) you may see some differences. The length of the "tail" can vary, too.

Zebras are not in the Western US - no paw-paw trees there. Pawpaws are found only in the Eastern US (mostly in wetland/swampy areas) hence Zebras are also limited to the range because of their larval food tree.
-----
____

Wyvern

>>So i go to the lake and was able to take several shots of this i believe to be a white tiger swallow tail? Anyone know for sure? Tried to look on net but no luck. I live in N calif.
>>
>>

It looks like the Pale Swallowtail, Papilio eurymedon. Tigers are never that pale except when very old and worn out and a lot of their scales are missing... that butterfly in your photo is quite fresh looking. Also the patterns don't quite match up to a tiger. The patters are more along the lines for the Pale s-t.
-----
____

Wyvern

I must admit, I was not paying attention to location. I know that the zebra has expanded their range, but not that far west.

I found the Pale Swallowtail yesterday and ready to post, but my chameleon (phwyvern, you know Luna from the cham forum) - was having trouble and died later in the day.

I looked again today and found a good image of the PS for diggy415 that can be found here www.cbif.gc.ca/spp_pages/butterflies/species/PaleSwallowtail_e.php

and here is one from another site

lele
Pale Swallowtail

>>I found the Pale Swallowtail yesterday and ready to post, but my chameleon (phwyvern, you know Luna from the cham forum) - was having trouble and died later in the day.
>>

I kinda figured you didn't see the calif. reference in the original post.

Eve told me about your cham.. so sorry for your loss. i know it's hard. I just recently lost a gorgeous high red eastern hognose snake I had been working on. I think one of the frogs I caught to feed it may have had a rock in its stomach that caused a blockage in the snake's intestines.
-----
____

Wyvern

Definetly a Pale Swallowtail! I have one in my collection. Can be easily confused with the Zebra, though rarly comes THAT pale.