Not Just...

..."a yellow butterfly," which is how I first labeled it when I spotted this beauty today.

It's a Western Tiger Swallowtail (Papilio rutulus), as I learned from several "how to identify butterflies" websites. The "tiger" part of its name is because the wings are striped like a tiger -- four black stripes on yellow -- on both sides. The hindwings have "tails" that are reminiscent of a swallow's long tail feathers.

As if that weren't enough decoration, the forewings and hindwings are edged in black with yellow dashes, and the lower inner margins of the hindwings have spots of blue and red/orange. Talk about fancy!

These are big butterflies, with a wingspan of 2.75-4 inches (7-10 cm) -- see the front view extra! They feed on nectar from a wide range of flowers, including these blackberry blossoms. 

Western Tiger Swallowtails are found in much of western North America, from British Columbia to North Dakota in the north to Baja California and New Mexico to the south.

I've learned a lot about our beautiful guests today, and I'm delighted that they find Bellingham appealing!

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