Tiger Swallowtail

Posted by seventhray (Wayland, United States) on 4 June 2008 in Animal & Insect.

Well time has zoomed by once again! It has been getting more and more difficult for me to take photo's these days! Between the wacky weather(ours has been cold we had snow a couple of weeks ago) the rising gas prices (makes it very difficult to travel around and get pics)and all the activity around the house I haven't had doodly squat for pics to show ya! Frustrating! BUT....... I have been lucky lately and I have some neat photo's for ya! This first one is an Eastern Tiger Swallowtail!

It was really cool, my husband opend the door to go outside the other day and noticed this butterfly clinging to the wall. It must of just come out of its cocoon because it's wings were all floppy. It was real cold that day so I got a box and a small screen and put the butterlfy in the box and brought it in for the night. The next day or so it's wings were ready to go! So I brought it out side and let it go, I managed to get some shots of it before it flew away. Great opportunity for me!

Looking up what type of butterfly this was I found some interesting information I thought was cool. With this type of butterfly the males are always yellow but the females can be yellow or black! They are common in forest and along streams (just in case you want to look for them). When they are a catapillar they grow to 2" and are pale green with orange and black eye spots at the front. Their choice of plants are broadleaf trees such as the Cottonwood, the Birch, Ash,Willow and Cherry. They crysalis over winter.

Next pic is a real treat but you'll have to tune in tomorrow to find out what I've got for ya!
Take all!!!
Lyn