Eastern Tiger Swallowtail on Bergamot
Female, Dark Morph (Papilio glaucus)
The commoner yellow form of the Eastern Tiger Swallowtail is a frequent visitor to the garden at this time of the year. I always enjoy seeing them, but the appearance of this dark morph female in the bergamot a few days ago was something to crow about.
All dark morphs of the species are female. They are examples of Batesian mimicry, a phenomenon in which members of a harmless species evolve to resemble another species which is toxic or unpalatable. The lady mimics the poisonous Pipevine Swallowtail butterfly, thus gaining a measure of protection from predators.
I'll be looking more closely, now, at what appear to be black moths as I walk down the road. There is wild bergamot in bloom!
ReplyDeleteHow beautiful. On so many occasions, Cate, you have opened my world to more than I initially noticed. Thank you.
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