Zebra Swallowtail in August

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Zebra Swallowtail in August

August 17, 2019 by Mike Powell

On Monday I spotted this beautiful Zebra Swallowtail butterfly (Protographium marcellus) at Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge. Normally Zebra Swallowtails are very skittish and are in almost constant motion. This one, however, was so involved with the flower that it did not immediately fly away and allowed me to capture this image.

Posted in Butterflies, Nature, Photography, Summer, wildlife | Tagged Canon 50D, Eurytides marcellus, Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge, Protographium marcellus, Tamron 180mm, Woodbridge VA, Zebra Swallowtail, Zebra Swallowtail butterfly | 12 Comments

12 Responses

on August 17, 2019 at 8:30 am | Reply Ellen Jennings

Wonderfully sharp capture, Mike! I really like the composition, too, with that little curlicue of a leaf making a nice accent.
on August 17, 2019 at 9:30 am | Reply Dan Antion

What a beauty, Mike. Great photo.
- on August 17, 2019 at 5:19 pm | Reply Mike Powell
  
  Thanks, Dan. I’m really happy with the way that this one turned out.
on August 17, 2019 at 9:37 am | Reply joyroses13

Awesome!
on August 17, 2019 at 12:59 pm | Reply Molly Lin DutinaMolly Dutina

I have not seen a photo showing the details of its coloration. Another good job!
- on August 17, 2019 at 5:19 pm | Reply Mike Powell
  
  Thanks, Molly. I’ve had a good run recently with butterflies of various sorts. In my experience, a somewhat larger group of folks like my butterfly shots than my dragonfly shots. I think that butterflies are universally considered to be beautiful, while some people find dragonflies to be too alien and a little too creepy. There is no accounting for taste. 🙂
on August 17, 2019 at 3:53 pm | Reply Eliza Waters

Splendid portrait, Mike.
- on August 17, 2019 at 5:16 pm | Reply Mike Powell
  
  Thanks, Eliza. I was quite fortunate to finally find a cooperative Zebra Swallowtail. I can’t tell you how many times I have chased after them in the past, waiting in vain for them to stop and perch in an accessible location.
on August 17, 2019 at 6:24 pm | Reply Reed Andariese

Great image Mike! Beautiful Shot!
- on August 17, 2019 at 6:55 pm | Reply Mike Powell
  
  Thanks, Reed. That means a lot coming from you, Reed.
on August 18, 2019 at 1:24 am | Reply Merryl

Beautiful!
on August 19, 2019 at 7:59 am | Reply nutsfortreasure

Awesome capture.