Black Butterfly

[surfinbird]

On Sunday a big black butterfly was on a black eyed susan in my garden but flew off before i could take a picture. I think it may have been a black swallow tail . Does anyone know where I might go to find one to photograph . I live in the Woodbine and Danforth area.
Thank You
surfinbird

[Tommy]

There are five possible species assuming it’s a Swallowtail butterfly:
1. Pipevine Swallowtail (Very rare in Toronto): http://www.cbif.gc.ca/spp_pages/butterflies/species/PipevineSwallowtail_e.php

2. Spicebush Swallowtail (Rare in Toronto): http://www.cbif.gc.ca/spp_pages/butterflies/species/SpicebushSwallowtail_e.php

3. Black Swallowtail (Common in Toronto): http://www.cbif.gc.ca/spp_pages/butterflies/species/BlackSwallowtail_e.php

4. Eastern Tiger Swallowtail, dark female form (While Toronto is the Northern range of the common Eastern Tiger Swallowtails, the Eastern Tiger Swallowtail dark female form is rare in Toronto): http://www.cbif.gc.ca/spp_pages/butterflies/species/EasternTigerSwallowtail_e.php
& http://www.cbif.gc.ca/spp_pages/butterflies/captions/EasternTigerSwallowtailcap_e.php

5. Giant Swallowtail (Rare in Toronto): http://www.cbif.gc.ca/spp_pages/butterflies/species/GiantSwallowtail_e.php


  A Black Swallowtail will be the most likely of the 5

 :idea: For those who are interested in identifying butterflies in Canada, this helpful website is actually from the book    “The Butterflies of Canada by Ross A. Layberry, Peter W. Hall, and J. Donald Lafontaine. University of Toronto Press; 1998.” : http://www.cbif.gc.ca/spp_pages/butterflies/index_e.php

[surfinbird]

Thank you for the very helpful reply , I think it's a Black swallowtail as well.
surfinbird

[BIGFRANK]

Hi Sco....oops surfinbird. I think it mostly likely was a Black Swallowtail. I saw a handfull of them today at Rosetta McClain Gardens in Scarborough. Its one light west of Birchmount and Kingston Rd. off of Kingston Rd. The entrance is just before the lights,at Glen Everst Rd. Had great 30minute look at a Red Fox too,which was digging near an old log,presumably for bugs and grubs. Saw quite a large yellow hairy centipede? millipede? caterpillar? When I get photos back I will post a picture for ID.

[Tommy]

[surfinbird]

Great picture thanks for sharing . Thanks Frank I have to get over to the gardens someday it seems there is a lot happening over there.
surfinbird