None of these butterflies are exactly the same~can you tell them apart?
Eastern Tiger Swallowtail
The Eastern Tiger Swallowtail butterfly is the state insect of Virginia. The native tulip poplar tree is the main host to the larvae, as well as Sweetbay Magnolia and Black Cherry. Fortunately I have several huge tulip poplars in my backyard and they are all over the neighborhood. We also planted a Sweetbay Magnolia last fall.
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| Eastern Tiger Swallowtail, male (R) and female (L) nectaring on Joe Pye Weed |
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| Eastern Tiger Swallowtail butterfly (female) on Agastache- Black Form is always female. |
The Black Swallowtail butterfly larval host plant is native Golden Alexander, which I've planted several of. The caterpillars also feed on plants in the carrot family, including parsley, fennel, dill, queen anne's lace, and of course, carrots. This past summer I was able to raise a bunch of them from egg to butterfly...watching the cycle was amazing. I've posted about the process before and plan to blog about last summers experience, eventually.
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| Black Swallowtail butterfly on Rudbeckia Laciniata leaf~top view |
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| Black Swallowtail butterfly just emerged from cocoon~side view |
Spicebush Swallowtail
The Spicebush Swallowtail larval host is the Spicebush (which I have two of) and the Sassafras tree. I posted photos of the adorable cats on my spicebush last summer. They are very different looking than the other swallowtail caterpillars.
The Spicebush Swallowtail larval host is the Spicebush (which I have two of) and the Sassafras tree. I posted photos of the adorable cats on my spicebush last summer. They are very different looking than the other swallowtail caterpillars.
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| Spicebush Swallowtail butterflyon phlox paniculata~top view |
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| Spicebush Swallowtail butterfly on summer phlox~side view |
Red-Spotted Purple (not a swallowtail at all, but can get confused with one!)
The Red-Spotted Purple butterfly looks a little like the Spicebush Swallowtail~minus the swallow tail. I don't often see them but the photo below from last summer shows one who had been through some rough times. In my yard the larvae feed on serviceberry, poplar and oak trees.
The Red-Spotted Purple butterfly looks a little like the Spicebush Swallowtail~minus the swallow tail. I don't often see them but the photo below from last summer shows one who had been through some rough times. In my yard the larvae feed on serviceberry, poplar and oak trees.
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| Red-Spotted Purple butterfly resting on hammock~top view |
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| Red-Spotted Purple butterfly on agastache~top view |
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| Red Spotted Purple~side view |
As you can see, the Eastern Tiger Swallowtail (yellow form) is pretty easy to spot. But the black form of the Eastern Tiger Swallowtail (did you even know there was a black form?) and the Black Swallowtail can be difficult to tell apart, unless you know that there are two rows of white dots along the edge of the Black Swallowtail and only one row along the edge of the Eastern Tiger Swallowtail, black form. The Spicebush Swallowtail looks very similar, especially from the side view with wings closed. Even the Red Spotted Purple (which isn't a swallowtail at all) looks similar to the Spicebush Swallowtail, just without the 'swallow tail'. I find myself going to my friend Randy's webage Butterflies of the Carolinas and Virginias when I am trying to determine what butterfly I am looking at.
What gifts have you discovered today? Until next time,
Words and photos ©Thanks for today.™, by Jan Huston Doble @ http://www.thanksfor2day.blogspot.com/
Not to be reproduced or re-blogged without express permission of the author.
