Well, Melanie is doing the happy dance today! First off, I finally got a picture of a Spicebush Swallowtail! Ok, I got more than one.
So naturally, I had to go search for eggs and I found four! That was when the happy dance started. For research purposes, I'll note that the butterfly laid all four eggs on one Spicebush plant. Now, I have, planted literally in a row, a Sassafras tree (small), my healthy Spicebush with about 40 leaves, and the Spicebush I thought was dead but isn't with about 6 leaves. So the butterfly went for the healthy Spicebush. Kind of thought I might get an egg on the Sassafras, but nope. I guess they really like Spicebush more. As you can see, a lot of Swallowtails lay their eggs singly on the underside of the leaf.
Shoot, I just thought that I better check those Camphor trees that are coming up! They're invasive; I think the birds are pooping out their seeds under my oak tree because that's where they keep coming up. Spicebush STs will use them as a host but I have a theory that it's not as nutritious because I rarely find big cats on them.
Anyway, here's a Duskywing on its favorite Spanish Needles.
The Gulf Frits were being very bad today and didn't want their picture taken. But as I was literally opening the door to the garage I spotted this one just sitting on the passion vine. I thought it was weird but Dad said, "Maybe it had just come out." And sure enough, when I looked at the picture I saw the empty chrysalis just to the right of the butterfly. Duh! Score one for Dad on that one.
The whole reason I was outside was to pick more pellitory for my Red Admiral cat. These guys eat a lot for a caterpillar! I thought Polydamas and Monarchs were bad but this little guy is eating his weight in the stuff. Seriously, he has grown so much in two days it's blowing my mind. Here's a picture where you can kind of see the little yellow triangles on their otherwise all black body.
In bad news, I had to put down a Monarch today as it was stuck in its chrysalis which is kind of a classic sign of OE infection. My Queen chrysalis was also severely discolored so I threw it out, as well.
Dirtdorphins, that is a cool shot! Butterfly and shadow - neat!
