This is one of the Black Swallowtail butterflies that recently hatched for us, also know as the American or Parsnip Swallowtail. We caught a couple caterpillars in the fall that spun their cocoon in the container we had them housed in. We kept them in the garage throughout the winter where it's nice and cold. Once Spring arrived and the weather warmed we moved them upstairs into the kitchen and shortly thereafter, walla this beauty hatched.
This is a male and he's perched on a flower of our salvia plant. We kept him loose in the bathroom for a couple days because it was rainy and wet outside and then transferred him outside once the weather cleared. Emilie befriended him and was able to hold him and carry him around. When it was time she carried him out by the pool and placed him on one of the many blooming flowers we have. He hung around for a couple days and then off he went.
Hopefully, he'll be back for a visit and to increase our chances we've planted some parsley and dill in our gardens, which these and other butterflies happen to love. Another favorite of theirs is Queen Anne's Lace that we have growing through our yard too, not to mention the endless flowers, so I'm guessing we'll see him again.
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