Black Swallowtail Butterfly

The easiest way to distinguish Black Swallowtails from Spicebush Swallowtails (the two species that are most often confused, especially if you don't have the plants, and thus caterpillars, to rely on--as those are quite different) is by the yellow spotting on the topside wings.  Black Swallowtails have yellow spotting ABOVE the blue, while Spicebush's is typically below the blue, if at all present!  'Course, that's the case with the males, anyway.  Females are a whole different thing (but aren't we always!  Ha!).

There are lots of great sites online to check into when looking for butterflies.  But you probably already know this.

Have a great day -- thanks for visiting!

Hanging annual (in NH, anyway) is Lantana.