Butterfly of the Month/August

We are butterfly poor this year; I went out this morning to choose a subject for butterfly of the month. The only species present in any numbers (6) was the Spicebush Swallowtail (Papilio troilus troilus). This is a large butterfly of woodland openings and edges. The caterpillar feeds on Spicebush and Sassafras leaves. The adult butterfly feeds upon many flowers; including butterfly bush, milkweed and joe-pye weed.

I have both Sassafras and Spicebush in my yard and the Sassafras seems to be the most consistent host plant for the species. The caterpillar is the familiar caterpillar with the giant eye-spots.
The Butterflies Of West Virginia and their Caterpillars (Pitt Series in Nature and Natural History)

Photos by High Virginia Images    (c) All Rights Reserved

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