This was likely not the pupated adult of the caterpillar I found on the dill, and it’s also a male, which means that my gardens are the social clubs for swallowtail butterflies. Yay butterflies!
As with most sexually-reproducing species, the male wafts his pheromones to announce his presence (cologne), flaunts his colors (“Look at my clothes and car!”), and prances about to demonstrate his virility (peels out of the parking lot/plays football). And yet, before we laugh and denounce the painfully obnoxious mating rituals of young males, remember that these behaviors only persist because females respond to them favorably.
Unlike humans, however, butterflies are minimally destructive, and to my hearing–silent. So they can stay. I saw this one fluttering about in the petunias in my daughter’s garden.
He seemed irritated with my presence, constantly flying away when I got close enough to get a picture. Eventually, I got this image. I was hoping to get a better shot of his wings, but decided to let him be after several minutes of harassment. Good luck finding your mate, Mr. Swallowtail.
–Simon