Elation and Sadness yesterday...
I was elated cause I saw for the first time on my property, a swallowtail (I think it was Eastern). Caught a glimpse of it as I was looking toward my greenhouse. Got closer and yes - it was a Swallowtail. Ran in to get camera and tell DW.
As I got closer, I thought it was on the wall of the GH. Nope.
It had somehow got trapped between the layers of film (2 layers of 4 mil plastic) on my GH wall. As I got closer, I could see it was completely stationary. Then I realized -- problem. It was dead.
I gently removed it with some effort to see if it was in fact dead. Yep. It was freaking hot here then ~ 92 degrees outside, so that area of the GH had to be well above 100 + and I figure the poor little guy died of the heat and/or was asphiziated.
Darn it!
So I gently layed him to rest.
A short time later though, I actually saw another of the same species land for a few seconds on one of my rose bushes bloom. It only stayed for like 3 seconds. Of course I had no camera.
And then off he went!
Since I know nothing about Swallotails, I have no idea what attracted them to my property. In particular why the one went in to the GH. This is my 3rd season with it and I have never seen a larger butterfly inside. A few teeny ones - mostly moths.
At least I can look forward to the hope of see one again.
