Observation date: July 16, 2023
Submitted by: ezeemonee
Specimen type: Photograph
Observation notes: Near St Peter’s Dome Trail. Sunny day in the 70’s F between 9K-10K elevation. I might be wrong but I believe this is a relatively rare female Black Variant of the Tiger Swallowtail that attempts to mimic toxic Pipevine Swallowtails. Many normal yellow Tiger Swallowtails flying around the mountain as well but I wasn’t able to get a pic of those. May also be a dark form Black Swallowtail.
Status: Resident
Verified by: mikefisher
Verified date: September 17, 2023
Coordinator notes: Your original as submitted suggested ID is correct. By color association to the Pipevine Swallowtail, even the Black Swallowtail probably gain some protection as being distasteful. The Pipevine and Eastern Tiger Swallowtail are of uncommon to rare occurrence in eastern Colorado...let alone the dark form of the latter of which I know of only one record in Colorado (mine from many years ago well out on the eastern plains at Bonny Reservoir, Yuma County). Mike
