Spicebush Swallowtail

Photographers and nature watchers are sharing images of the spicebush swallowtail butterfly, a North American species known for its striking black wings with blue-green shimmer and caterpillars that mimic snake heads. One widely shared macro shot carried the caption that an opportunity sometimes disguises itself as a problem, a reflection on how this butterfly is often mistaken for a pest or a darker species before its beauty is recognised.