This is my very favorite kind of butterfly, Papilio polyxenes- or our local flavor of black swallowtail.
I once raised one from a chrysalis, but her wings didn't dry correctly and she was never able to fly. I named her Persephone, and I kept her alive for about three days on karo syrup and water. But, alas, the cats got to her and killed her very unceremoniously. I cried for a day and mourned for a week. I had no idea why the death of such a tiny, frail thing had such an impact on me. She was just so beautiful, and I found it an amazing miracle that something like her could emerge from something so droll and plain.
Anyway, my signature on a black swallowtail. The fruit of three hours of labor. Enjoy.
