Giant Swallowtail Butterfly

 Giant Swallowtails are new residents of Minnesota.  They are the largest butterfly in North America, and a few used to migrate north into our area each summer, but a warming climate allows their caterpillars to survive our winters now.

I found this one sipping mineral fluids from a dirt parking area this afternoon in Elm Creek Park Reserve.  Butterflies with a seven inch wing span are fun to see.