Zebra Swallowtail Butterfly

I hope I get another chance to photograph one of these fellows, as they are one of the most spectacular and abundant North American representatives of the kite swallowtails, named for their triangular wings and long sharp tails. Despite a large range, the Zebra occurs only near pawpaw or its relatives - it usually fails to adapt to suburban growth and development of the countryside. It is the state butterfly of Tennessee. This picture does not show the bright red spots and the base of his body, or the very pretty shape of his wings, but he is really difficult to photograph; he flies quickly and erratically from bush to bush, and when he finds some pollen, he keeps his balance by fluttering his wings at an enormous speed. He didn't hang around long, so this is the best of the pictures I managed to take.