Blue Skies and Butterflies by Jacqueline Verdun

The Ann Arbor Observer has a classic feature titled The Biggest Butterfly: Seeking Giant Swallowtails that says in part:

The aptly named giant swallowtail is the biggest butterfly in Michigan. Form your two index fingers into pointers and touch them to each other: if you take a large glove size, the butterfly’s maximum wingspan is approximately the length of both fingers put together. The field guides say around six inches.

The giant swallowtail’s coloration is as spectacular as its size. From the top, its wings look dark brown to black, with yellow dot ribboning and a yellow eye-shaped spot on the end of each wing. When the wings are raised, the bottom is revealed to be a subtle cream interrupted by wavy blue and rust bands.

This species spends its Michigan winter in the pupa stage and emerges in two broods each summer, the first in May through June, the second in July through early September.

Jacqueline took this gorgeous photo a decade ago on August 20, 2014. You can check out another shot she took of this butterfly right here & see more in her Macro Insects etc gallery.