A common species yet still wonderful.

Thank you kindly panacanthus !

I do think that some of our Papilio species
are delightful in their own right. Favorites
of mine are:
glaucus (females/light phase)
marcellus (hey; its got zebra coloration)
troilus (unique variable green/teal/blue colors)
palamedes (just striking but, never caught one)

multicaudata (fabulous + big but, never caught one)
indra (12 incredible subspecies says it all !)

Anyway, I do think many collectors here take our native species
for "granted". Like well, they can ALWAYS get them or breed them.

As a field man who collects ALL his own personally I enjoy the
"thrill of the hunt" for swallowtails most. For me, there is a
certain challenge in achieving near perfect wild collected
specimens. I've never found breeding things attractive because
of all the worry, work, fuss, and bother.

However, that too still has its own rewards -- its just not for
everybody. I remember well just how tough it was to even catch
a swallowtail (of any kind) when I was a kid living in a VERY
suburban setting. Few and far between to put it frankly !

So, ever since those early days I've always kept a sharp eye
open for that "glory field" of pollinating swallowtails. When
that moment in time has presented itself I have always "pounced"
at the given opportunity...