Butterflies Are Beginning To Fly

West Virginia White

The butterflies are beginning to fly; between the rainstorms.  I saw a West Virginia White along the Shavers Fork on Monday.  I saw my second Eastern Tiger Swallowtail of the season yesterday.  Of course, the Cabbage Whites are patrolling the barren garden plots.  The hardy angle-wing species have been visible for almost a month.  A little blue butterfly sailed by me in the wind on Sunday.  I guess that it was a Spring Azure.  Now is a good time to prepare for new discoveries of Spring.


The Butterflies Of West Virginia and their Caterpillars (Pitt Series in Nature and Natural History)

Posted by High Virginia Outdoors    Photos by High Virginia Images

Butterfly of the Month/August-Eastern Tiger Swallowtail

The Eastern Tiger Swallowtail (Papilio glaucus) is probably the most noticable butterfly of our region, during the month of August. You may not know that the female is more often black as opposed to yellow. This is one of natures' ways of mimicing. The black form females resemble the Pipevine Swallowtail and are less likely to become bird food.

The most common larval host species is Yellow-poplar and black cherry.Although, there is usually a caterpillar to be found on the spicebushes in my yard.

These large and plentiful butterflies will be found feeding upon the flowers of Joe-pye Weed, Ironweed, milkweeds and thistles. Therefore, they can be found at nearly every location.
tiger swallowtail canvas prints
swallowtail framed prints