27-second animated GIF of the 27-minute metamorphosis of an Eastern Black Swallowtail (papilio polyxenes) caterpillar into a chrysalis [time lapse tape and animation by Webmistress] Lifestyles of Specific Butterflies
and Caterpillars
As provided by Geyata Ajilvsgi's Butterfly Gardening for the South
These xeriscape web pages have been constructed out of my own research into what I had to do to support hummingbirds and bees naturally without lots of maintenance and water, and to provide food to support an entire life- cycle for certain butterflies based on the established trees and shrubs in my garden. Therefore, worthy butterflies have been left off the list who turn up their proboscises at my trees and shrubs.
It is not enough to provide a nectar plant, for if one attracts butterflies to lay eggs in one's garden but does not provide food for the butterfly larvae to eat, the butterfly "babes" will starve. For every nectar plant that attracts a particular butterfly, one must plant a larval food:
Size: 33/8-51/2 inches
Range: All
Texas: 2, 3, 4 (1, 5)
Flight Time: All year (May-November)
The Giant Swallowtail is easily recognized, being the only large, common swallowtail with brownish-black on the upper wing surface and yellow on the lower surface. The brownish black upper surface is marked by two broad yellow bands meeting near the tip of the forewing; the lower surface is yellow splashed with black bands, veins, and borders. A row of blue iridescent crescents decorates the black band on the hindwing. Tails on the hindwings are long, spoon-shaped, and yellow-centered.
Normally a strong, high flier, the Giant Swallowtail is easily enticed down to flowers, drinking from them long and thirstily. It is especially fond of Butterfly Bush (Buddleia davidii) and Lantana (Lantana spp.), flying about leisurely from one bush to the other. It also partakes of the fluids of mud, fruit juices, 116 and manure.
The larva commonly feeds on leaves of citrus trees and is referred to as an orange puppy or orange dog. It is not hard to see the resemblance to a puppy as the caterpillar lies stretched out on a leaf in the sun. The caterpillar's osmeteria, or scent organs, are yellow and emit a most unpleasant odor when the caterpillar is handled.
The female is a prolific egg producer; one can lay four or five hundred eggs during her lifetime.
Larva: Brownish- or greenish-maroon with white or cream markings; shiny, resembling bird droppings. The larva rests exposed on upper or lower sides of leaves or along young branches. It does not make any sort of nest or shelter.
Food Plants: Hercules'-club (Zanthoxylum clava-herculis), Lime Prickly Ash (Z. fagara), Prickly Ash (Z. hirsutum), Grapefruit (Citrus maxima), Lemon (C. limon), Lime (C. aurantifolia), Sour Orange (C. aurantium), Sweet Orange (C. sinensis), Hop-tree (Ptelea trifoliata), Common Rue (Ruta graveolens), Rue (R. chalapensis)
Parts Eaten: Young to midmature foliage
TIGER SWALLOWTAIL (Pterourus glaucus)
Size: 31/8-51/2 inches
Range: All
Texas: 2, 3, 4
Flight Time: April-November
The yellow-and-black tigerlike striping of this butterfly makes it easy to recognize. When in flight or nectarine with its wings raised, it can be confused with the Giant Swallowtail, which is similar in size and underwing coloring. However, the four tiger stripes trailing downward from the leading edge of the forewing are distinctive enough for identification. The lower wing surface of the Tiger also differs in having its row of several blue and red dots set within a smudgy black marginal band of the hindwing; the dark-colored band of the Giant is placed in the middle of the hindwing and contains numerous blue dots but only two red dots. You won't confuse their upper surfaces, though, for the upper wing surface of the Tiger is yellow with the same four black, trailing stripes parallel to the body, while the Giant's is black with yellow stripes placed in a very different pattern.
An interesting dimorphism occurs in Tiger Swallowtails. Some of the females are black, appearing to be the unpalatable Pipevine Swallowtail (Battus philenor). The black coloration normally occurs only from female eggs laid by a black mother. Male eggs from the same black mother produce yellow males.
The Tiger Swallowtail is a strong flier, at times flying very rapidly, at other tines slowly, soaring with the wings at an agle. It often flies high in the trees in the wild, frequently along watercourses or along forest borders. It visits flowers readily, sometimes barely clutching the flower with the feet and with the wings fluttering rapidly, similar to the other Swallowtails. At other times it may cling below the nectar source with wings spread flat, thoroughly working the flowers. When nectarine at especially rich sources such as Azalea (Azalea spp.), Butterfly Bush, Butterfly Weed (Asclepias tuberosa), or Glossy Abelia (Abelia grandiflora), it closes the wings and crawls among the flowers, slowly ex tracting every minute drop of nectar. It may also occasionally be found on carrion. Male Tiger Swallowtails are fond of wet areas and often gather in groups to obtain salts from the moisture. This puddling behavior is practiced by many species of butterflies.
Both the male and the female participate in the courtship ritual, with much fluttering and flying about before landing and actually mating. During the courtship flight, the male releases a perfumelike pheromone, which acts as an aphrodisiac to excite the female for mating. If the pair are disturbed during copulation, the female flies carrying the male.
Larva: The young larva is shiny, mottled in browns, with white saddle across back, much resembling a fresh bird dropping. The mature larva is green, the head portion enlarged, banded crosswise with a solitary narrow yellow band bordered by a black stripe, and with two yellow and black eyespots. Larva eats at night. During the day they rest on a silken mat on top of a leaf, with the leaf edges pulled together to form a tent.
Food Plants: Arizona Ash (Fraxinus velutina), Carolina Ash (F. caroliniana), Green Ash (F. pennsylvanica), White Ash (F. americana), Black Cherry (Prunus serotina), Common Chokecherry (P. virginiana), Common Peach (P. persica), Mexican Plum (P. mexicana), Apple (Malus pumila), Camphor-tree (Cinnamomum camphora), Common Catalpa (Catalpa bignoniodes), American Hornbeam (Carpinus caroliniana), Eastern Cottonwood (Populus deltoides), Mock Orange (Styrax americana), Sassafras (Sassafras albidum), Sweet Bay (Magnolia virginiana), Tulip-tree (Liriodendron tulipifera), Common Lilac (Syringa vulgaris), Hop- tree (Ptelea trifoliata), Spicebush (Lindera benzoin)
Parts eaten: Leaves
Note: The Tiger Swallowtail is very similar in coloring to the Two-tailed Tiger Swallowtail (P. multicaudata). Identification is best determined by the addition of the short but conspicuous second tail near the body of the Two-tailed Tiger Swallowtail.
EASTERN BLACK SWALLOWTAIL (Papitio polyxenes)
Size: 21/8-31/2 inches
Range: All
Texas: Throughout
Flight Time: February-November
The Eastern Black Swallowtail is adapted to many situations within open country. This is a common butterfly of fields and meadows, cultivated farmland, parks, golf courses, and flower gardens. It seems to show no preference between dry uplands and moist marshes, as long as the area is open and not wooded.
A great lover of flowers, it likes to drift among the plants lazily, taking nectar and pausing frequently to bask with wings fully outspread. It is especially attracted to gardens which have both plentiful flowers and good stands of Common Fennel (Foeniculum vulgare), Dill (Anethum graveolens), or Parsley (Petroselinum crispum), its larval food plants. Fa vored nectar plants include blossoms of fruit trees such as Apple and Common Peach along with Lantana, Thoroughwort (Eupatorium havense), Butterfly Weed, Indian Blanket (Gaillardia pulchella), New England Aster (Aster novae-angliae), Phlox, Purple Loosestrife, various Thistles, and Zinnias (Zinnia spp.). The female of the Eastern Black Swallowtail closely mimics the Pipevine Swallowtail, gaining an advantage from the Pipevine's toxicity. The upper wing surfaces of the female are mostly black, with two rows of creamy or pale yellowish dots bordering both wings and with a wide iridescent bluish band between the rows of dots. The upper band of yellow dots is often absent or very faint. The upper wing surface of the male is generally black with two rows of large, very prominent bright yellow spots. The rows of spots are separated on the lower wings by a narrow wash of metallic blue. The lower wing surfaces of both sees are similar to those of the Spicebush Swallowtail, being black with two rows of orangy-red spots separated by a band of widely spaced blue dots. Rows of small yellow dots line the black abdomen. A solitary large, black-centered red or orangish spot in the lower angle of each hindwing occurs on both upper and lower surfaces.
The insect is often seen in moist areas or around mud puddles, methodically sucking up the moisture with its accumulated salts.
To seek mates, a male patrols a chosen area or occasionally claims a perching place from which to fly out to inspect whatever passes by. He changes his perching site frequently, usually not using the same space more than two or three days. The female flies to a hilltop (or to the highest terrain around) to mate, with a male usually in pursuit. Once at the mating ground, the male and female flutter near one another briefly, then land, where they copulate. If the female lives longer than a week, she often mates a second time.
Larva: The young larva may be various shades of brown, or perhaps black and white with a wide white saddle. The mature larva is up to 2 inches long, basically green with wide, crosswise bands of black, the bands interspersed with yellow dots or slashes. The larva does not eat its cast skin after molting, as is common with many species.
Food Plants: Nuttall Mock Bishop's-weed (Ptilimnium nuttallii), Ribbed Mock Bishop's weed (P. costatum), Thread-leaf Mock Bishop's weed (Ptilimnium capillaceum), Prairie Parsley (Polytaenia nuttallii), Teas Dutchman's Breeches (Thamnosma texana) and cultivated Common Fennel, Dill, and Parsley seem to be the favored food plants. Others less commonly used include Anise-root (Osmorhiza longistylis), Common Rue, Rue, Forked Scale-seed (Sper molepis divaricata), Garden Parsnip (Pastinaca sativa), Queen Anne's Lace (Daucus carota), Rattlesnake-weed (Daucus pusillus), Stalky Berula (Berula erects), Spotted Cowbane (Cicuta maculata), Water-parsnip (Sium suava), Wild Celery (Apium graveolens), Wild Chervil (Cryptotaenia canadensis) and Yellow Pimpernel (Taenidia integerrima).
Parts Eaten: Almost all aboveground parts of plant except tough stem
Note: Queen Anne's Lace is often listed as a major food source (and is included here), but I have yet to find a caterpillar on this rough plant.
RED-SPOTTED PURPLE (Basilarchia astyanax)
Size: 3-3 3/8 inches
Range: All
Texas: 2, 4, 5
Flight Time: March-November
Commonly seen flying along forest edges, woods' paths, and water courses, this butterfly is a great lover of flowers and visits parks and gardens where good nectar sources are available. But having a rather catholic taste in food choices, it can just as readily be seen feeding on sap, fruit, decaying wood, fungi, honey-dew, dung, or dead animals.
When mating, the male does not patrol but instead chooses a perch in the open on trees or tall bushes and waits for the female to fly by.
Similar to the Pipevine Swallowtail in its plainness and lack of conspicuous markings, the Red-spotted Purple is nonetheless very striking, with a beautiful iridescent sheen of blue across the outer portion of the black wings on the upper surface, with the blue most noticeable on the basal portion of the hindwings. Faint, iridescent reddish patches near the tips of the forewings are visible under certain lighting. The undersurface is distinguished by a cluster of red markings near the body in addition to a row along the outer red- and black-banded margins. When trying to separate the two in the field, note the absence of tails on the Red-spotted Purple.
Even though it is in an entirely different family, the Red-spotted Purple mimics the poisonous Pipevine Swallowtail and thus obtains protection from birds and other predators.
Larva: Cream to greenish with reddish or brownish saddle-patch on the back; area behind the head enlarged or 'humped" and bearing two small, brushlike horns or bristles.
Food Plants: Black Poplar (Populus nigra), White Poplar (P. alba), Large-toothed Aspen (P. grandidentata), Quaking Aspen (P. tremuloides), Eastern Cottonwood (P. deltoides), Swamp Cottonwood (P. heterophylla), American Hornbeam (Carpinus caroliniana), Eastern Hop-hombeam (Ostrya virginiana), Black Cherry (Prunus serotina), Common Chokecherry (P. virginiana), Apple (Malus pumila), Common Pear (Pyrus communes), American Basswood (Tilia ameri cana), and Common Deerberry (Vaccinium stamineum)
Parts Eaten: Foliage, preferably young or immature
MOURNING CLOAK (Nymphalis antiopa)
Size: 2 1/8-3 3/8 inches
Range: All
Texas: Throughout
Flight Time: All year
This butterfly is so distinctively colored and patterned there can be no confusion as to its identity. Basically the wings are a rich brownish maroon which takes on a purplish sheen when viewed in a certain light. The wing margins are conspicuously angled and rimmed in a pale velvety yellow border with an inner row of large, brilliant blue spots. The undersurface of the wigs is a dull, grayish-black with an irregular, dirty cream or pale yellowish border.
This is the largest and one of the most striking of the Anglewings. The range of the Mourning Cloak is extraordinary, wandering as far north as Alaska, as far south as South America, and even to England, where it is known as the Camberwell Beauty. Its flight is strong and erratic, but the insect will often remain on the ground until almost stepped on, then leap into the air in a circling flight, only to settle down
again close to its original position. This flight is often accompanied by a rattling noise and a conspicuous click as it closes its wings on alighting. The Mourning Cloak has a habit of resting head downward with wings closed over the back on tree trunks or posts, but often basks on the ground or on low shrubbery in the sun with wings expanded. When resting on the ground with wings closed, it is almost impossible to see.
Mourning Cloaks are one of the hibernators, but you can often see them flying around on sunny days during the winter even though there may be snov on the ground. If the temperature reaches 45 degrees or more on a sunny winter day, they often come forth for a bit of tree sap, then back to a crack or crevice until the next "warm" day. They are one of the first butterflies to visit sap flows in the early spring. Trees which have been "tapped' by the Yellowbellied Sapsucker are favorite feeding places. Mourning Cloaks generally are not great visitors to flowers, preferring open woodlands, but they will occasionally nectar among flowers, usually later in the year. They are especially fond of nectar from the flowers of Milkweed and Goldenrod.
Larva: Velvety black with raised white dots and several rows of branching black spines or bristles on the body and with a row of red spots along the back.
Food Plants: Black Willow (Salix nigra), Peach leaved Willow (S. amygdaloides), Sandbar Willow (S. exigua), Silky Willow (S. sericea), Weeping Willow (S. babylonica), Large-toothed Aspen (Populus gandidentata), Quaking Aspen (P. tremuloides), Eastern Cottonwood (P. deltoides), Black Poplar (P. nigra), White Poplar (P. alba), Eastern Hop- hornbeam (Ostrya virginiana), American Basswood (Tilia americans), Common Pear (Pyrus communes), American Elm (Ulmus americans), Siberian Elm (U. pumila), Slippery Elm (U. uba), Common Hackberry (Celtis Occidental, Net-leaf Hackberry (Celtis reticulate), Red Mulberry (Morus rubra), White Ash (Fraxinus americans), Yellow Birch (Betula lutea), Meadowsweet (Spiraea alba), Hops (Humulus lupulus), and Sheep Sorrel (Rumex acetosella)
Parts Eaten: Young foliage
MONARCH (Danaus plexippus)
Size: 31/2-4 inches
Range: All
Texas: Throughout
Flight Time: March-December
Overwinters: Adult in Mexico
The Monarch is probably the best known and most easily recognized butterfly in North America. The upper surface of its wings is a rich burnt orange with black veins and borders, the borders liberally sprinkled with a double row of small white dots. The male also has a conspicuous black hindwing dot, which is a cluster of special scent scales. From these scales the male can emit a strong fragrance, which attracts nearby females for mating. The female lacks these black scent scales and is generally a little darker in color. The lower wing surface of both sexes is lighter, duskier orange, with a black, white-dotted marginal border.
Moving in a slow, rather deliberate, soaring flight, Monarchs begin to return from their wintering grounds in early March, just as Milkweeds, the larval food plants, are showing fresh young growth. The females have mated before leaving their wintering grounds. By the time they reach their destination they are ready to begin depositing their eggs.
The Monarch larva feeds on many species of Asclepias as well as some other genera of the Milkweed family. Most members of the Milkweed family are poisonous; the plants contain cardiac glycosides, or heart poisons. These chemicals are carried over from the larval stage to the adult butterfly, especially in the female, making the insect unpalatable to predators. However, some species of Asclepias, and other genera as well, have very low toxin concentrations, leaving the adult butterfly relatively unprotected. Given a choice, a female Monarch finds the most poisonous plants on which to lay her eggs.
During the breeding season, the Monarch's favorite habitats are open fields, meadows, and flower gardens. It is a great lover of flower nectar and freely visits many different species. In the fall it seems especially fond of Lantana, Roosevelt Weed (Baccharis neglects), Thoroughwort, Blue Mist flower (Eupatorium coelestinum), Frostweed, Golden-eye (Viguiera dentata), Goldenrod (Solidago spp.), Mexican Sunflower, New England Aster, and Verbena. In many instances, Milkweed serves not only as the larval food source but as a favorite nectar source as well. Butterflies are one of the pollinators of Milkweed.
Larva: Conspicuously striped crosswise with
narrow black, yellow, and white bands, and with
two long, black, threadlike segments near the
head and two shorter segments near the rear.
Food Plants: Various members of the Milkweed family, especially Antelope-horns (Asclepias asperula)**, Green Milkweed (A. viridis) and
Mexican Milkweed (A. cuassavica). Almost all
other species are used, as well as Climbing Milkweed Vine (Sarcostemma cynanchoides) and Net-leaf Milkvine (Matelea reticulata). Butterfly Weed is often listed as a food plant, but because of its roughness and a very low concentration of toxins, it is rarely used.
Note: The Queen, which is closely related to the Monarch, also feeds on Milkweeds in the larval stage and is poisonous as an adult. The Queen does not migrate but spends the winter in the pupal stage. The nonpoisonous Viceroy, which belongs to another family and feeds on Black Cherry, Eastern Cottonwood, and Willow in the larval stage, mimics coloration similar to the Monarch and thereby gains protection.
**Antelope-horns (Asclepias asperula) does not transplant well because of deep, brittle roots, but is easy and fast to grow from seeds. Plant seed immediately after collection or hold over in cold storage until spring. Grows best in sandier, gravelly soil. Good, fast drainage is important. Full sun, little or no fertilizer, water only in drought. Trim back well-established plants to two to three inches above ground in June to promote fall bloom.
If you have seeds for any of the below I am eager to buy them or trade for Asclepias asperula seeds:
Asclepias amplexicaulis;Asclepias incarnata; Asclepias oenotheroides; Asclepias sp.; Asclepias speciosa; Asclepias verticillata; and Asclepias viridis
VICEROY (Limenitis archippus)
Size: 21/8-3 inches
Range: All
Texas: All except 1
Flight Time: April-October
Of the same genus as the Red-spotted Purple, the Viceroy is totally different in coloration and mimics the poisonous Monarch in the northern portion of its range. In the southern portions of its range it often mimics the various color phases of the Queen, which may be more common than the Monarch and is also distasteful. General coloration of the Viceroy, above and below, is a rich, russet-orange with conspicuously wide black venation. A distinctive black line curves across the lower wings above the black-bordered margins. Both wings are bordered in wide, white-dotted black bands with 7 a group of white dots near the tips of the forewings.
The Viceroy is very fond of a wide variety of flowers but is especially attracted to white ones such as Button- bush (Cephalanthus occidentalis) and the fall-flowering vine Climbing Hemp-weed (Mikania scandens), Heath Aster (Aster ericoides), Late-flowering Boneset (Eupatorium serotinum), and Plains Black-foot
(Melampodium leucanthum). While nectaring, the Viceroy usually keeps its wings partially expanded, differing from the Monarch, which usually feeds with its wings closed. The Viceroy basks frequently with half- or fully opened wings. Flight of the Viceroy consist of a series of rather rapid wing beats alternating with a period of gliding, enabling the insect to cover ground in a slow, erratic pattern. This butterfly prefers open fields, meadows, and sunny gardens, but likes a bit of moisture. It is one of the most commonly seen species along open, sunny stream banks or along edges of marshes if there are flowering plants around. Not only does the Viceroy take nectar readily, but it also sips moisture from sap, mud, rotting wood, fungi, dung, and aphid honeydew.
Larva: Mature larva mottled brown and olive, with creamy white saddle patch on the back, shiny, resembling fresh bird dropping. Region behind head enlarged or "humped" with two short feathery black horns.
Food Plants: Black Willow (Salix nigra), Coastal-plain Willow (S. caroliniana), Sandbar Willow (S. exigua), Silky Willow (S. sericea), Weeping Willow (S. babylonica), Large-toothed Aspen (Populus grandidentata), Quaking Aspen (P. tremuloides), Black Poplar (P. nigra), White Poplar (P. alba), Eastern Cottonwood (P. deltoides), Swamp Cottonwood (P. heterophylla), Apple (Malus pumila), Black Cherry (Prunus serotina), Common Pear (Pyrus communis), and Gopher-apple (Chrysobalanus oblongifolius)
Parts Eaten: First spring larvae often feed at night on the catkins (inflorescences) of some species; later larvae eat tips of leaves, preferably young ones.
PAINTED LADY (Vanessa cardui)
Size: 2-21/4 inches
Range: All
Texas: Throughout
Flight Time: All year (March-November)
Broods: Continuous (many)
The Painted Lady is the most widespread of
all the butterflies in the world. It bears other
descriptive common names, such as the Cosmopolitan and the Thistle Butterfly, the first
from its almost worldwide distribution, the second from its favorite food plant. This butterfly
is a most familiar sight, being one of the first
seen in early spring and one of the last in the
fall, or all year round in the southern part of its
range. In most of its range, it spends the winter
months tucked away in some crevice, inactive
except on the very warmest days. It is a com-
mon visitor to the garden all during the flowering season but is usually seen in greater
numbers in the autumn.
The upper wing surface of the Painted Lady
is a complex mottling of black and pinkish-orange, with a sprinkling of white dots near the
tips of the forewings. The patterning on the
lower surface is even more complicated, being a
mixture of golds, tans, black, and white. A row
of small eyespots and a narrow blue band occur
near the margins of the hindwings. In coloration and markings the Painted Lady is very
similar to its near relative, the American
Painted Lady (Vanessa virginensis), but differs.
Painted Lady occurs in almost all environments, as long as they are open, sunny, and covered with flowers. It cannot overwinter in any stage where the temperatures are severe; not moving southward as do some other species, they perish. But by February or March the overpopulated southern broods begin moving north and east from their warmer Southwestern wintering grounds; by late spring the Painted Lady has once again become a common sight throughout North America.
Despite their wide distribution, Painted Ladies do not congregate when feeding. Almost always there is only one or two in the garden at a time, unless they are around the larval food source. They are easily attracted to the garden by flowers of the Sunflower family, such as New England Aster, Mexican Sunflower, Purple Coneflower (Echinacea purpurea), and the single Zinnias.
Courtship flights of these butterflies are usually quite elaborate and preferably take place on open hilltops or at least the highest terrain possible. After mating, the female returns to lower ground and seeks out stands of Thistle to lay her eggs.
Larva: Grayish brown or black, with nu-erous narrow crosswise lines and rows of branched spines. Larva lives in silk nest formed by folding leaves of the food plant together and binding with silk.
Food Plants: Some of the most commonly used are Teas Thistle (Cisium texanum), Swamp Thistle (Cirsium muticum), Wavy-leaf Thistle (C. undulatum), Nodding Thistle (Carduus nutans), Barnaby Star Thistle (Centaurea solstitialis), and Milk Thistle (Silybum marianum). Other species used include Western Mugwort (Artemisia ludoviciana), Calendula (Calendula officinalis), Milfoil (Achillea millefolium), Annual Sunflower (Helianthus annuus), Garden Lettuce (Lactuca sativa), Borage (Borage officials), Cryptantha (Cryptantha angustifolia), Hollyhock (Althaea rosea), Little Mallow (Malva parviflora), High Mallow (M. sylvestris),Common Mallow (M. neglecta), Alkali Sida (Malvella leprosa), Cotton (Gossypium hirsutum), Beet (Beta vulgaris), Lamb's-quarters (Chenopodium album), Soybean (Glycine max), Alfalfa (Medicago sativa), Garden Bean (Phaseolus vulgaris), Bu-ig Nettle (Urtica urens), Tall Wild Nettle (U. dioica), Tree Tobacco (Nicotiana glauca), English Plantain (Plantago lanceolata), Garden Radish (Raphanus sativus), Muskmelon (Cucumis melo), and American Elm (Ulmus american).
Parts Eaten: Leaves
LILAC-BANDED LONGTAIL (Urbanus dorantes)
Size: 1 1/2-2 inches
Range: South Florida, South Texas
Texas: 3 (2, 4)
Flight Time: All year (April-October)
The Lilac-banded Longtail is readily identified by the long, pointed forewings and the hindwings which conspicuously narrow into long, slender tails. The upper surface of the wings is generally dark to grayish-brown, with an overall iridescent glimmer of lilac or rosy lavender covering the hindwings. A grouping of irregularly placed translucent spots occurs or the forewings. The lower surface of the forewings is dark gray, the hindwings frosty gray with dark brown spots and banding. The lower surface of both wings is beautifully tinged purple with iridescent scaling, but darker and more conspicuous on the hindwings.
This butterfly is found in the coolness of shade more often than in the sun, but this does not mean it cannot be found in gardens. It is a great lover of flowers: It simply feeds for long periods, then darts into the foliage or to a shaded tree trunk to keep cool between feedings. The Lilac-banded Longtail stays close to the more shrubby parts of the garden, making frequent forays out into the open. It is a strong flier and rapidly ips back and forth across pathways or small openings before finally settling down on a flower to feed.
It takes nectar from Lantana, Verbena, Huisache Daisy (Amblyolepis setigera), Indian Blanket, Missouri Ironweed (Vernonia missurica), Mist-flower, Morning Glory, Narrowleaf Gayfeather (Liatris mucronata), Phacelia, Skeleton Plant (Lygodesmia texana), Lemon Mint (Monarda citriodora), Summer Phlox, and Texas Thistle as well as many others.
While the Lilac-banded Longtail is a common resident only in the southern portion of Florida and the Rio Grande Valley area of south Texas, it emigrates as far north as Kansas and may breed there in some areas where the food plant is available. It cannot overwinter in any form in the colder climes, and large numbers perish each year.
Larva: Yellowish green to reddish orange, with lighter colored spots; downy, with short hairs; head black.
Food Plants: Pigeon-wings (Clitoria mariana), Garden Bean (Phaseolus vulgaris), Lima Bean (Phaseolus limensis), Purple Bean (P. atropurpureus), and probably Butterfly Pea (Centrosema vitginianum)
Parts Eaten: Leaves
BRAZILIAN SKIPPER (Calpodes ethlius)
Size: 11/4-21/4 inches
Range: Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, TexasTexas: 2, 3, 4
Flight Time: All year (April-December)
Food Plants: All Cannas (Canna spp.)
An inspection of any patch of Cannas (Canna spp.), especially in city gardens, will yield this large Skipper in all its stages. Look for rolled leaf edges, large portions of the leaves eaten, or adults zipping about nectaring on the flowers.
The Brazilian Skipper certainly has a personality all its own, and the more you watch this
butterfly, the more intriguing it becomes.
Quick in flight and almost secretive, it alights, then appears to be watching to see if you have noticed. Then it quickly flies to another perch in plain sight to do the same thing. The game seems endless.
The Brazilian Skipper is an especially fast flier, with strong, powerful wing beats. It often basks with wings spread in the "airplane" pose, at which times the beautiful markings of translucent spots on both wings are very conspicuous against the dark brown scaling. When the wings are folded, the hindwings are marked with three translucent dashes, and the forewings appear to be marked with two smaller ones. The forewings of this butterfly are very long and pointed.
Favorite flowers for nectar include Lantana, Cannas, Globe Amaranth, Periwinkles, Petunias, and Summer Phlox.
At times there may be so many larvae on the food plants that practically all of the leaves will be eaten. Often these Skippers disperse to great distances, lay their eggs, then immediately leave for yet another area. Especially susceptible to viruses, entire colonies are periodically wiped out.
Larva: Later instar larva is large, translucent grayish green with a dark and light line along each side, its head orange and black. Larva rests during the day in a leaf stitched together with silk to form a rolled tent, from which it emerges at night to feed.
Food Plants: All Cannas (Canna spp.) as well as Powdery-thalia (Thalia dealbata)
Parts Eaten: Leaves, usually the midmature ones first
Note: Green-leaved Cannas with red flowers are reportedly preferred over the red-leaved plants for egg deposition by the females, but I have found them to show no preference. When a number of caterpillars are feeding, their nighttime chomping can be heard for some distance.
GREAT PURPLE HAIRSTREAK (Attides halesus)
Size: 11/4-11/2 inches
Range: All
Texas: 2, 3, 4, 5
Flight Time: All year (February-November)
Broods: Continuous (many)
Among the North American Hairstreaks, the Great Purple is very unusual in its coloring, being basically black overlaid with blue. Wing scaling on the upper surface is one of the most brilliant iridescent blues found in any of the
butterflies in the South, making this one of our most beautiful. The lower wing surface is not quite so lavish in coloring, being more of a purplish gray, with spots of bright red on the base of the wing near the body and a patch of metallic blue and green spots near the tail. There is a large patch of brilliant blue at the base of the forewing, but it is usually hidden by the hindwing. The upper portion of the abdomen is black with white dots; the rear portion is a spectacular bright reddish orange. The male is more brilliantly colored than the female.
Commonly visiting flowers, the Great Purple Hairstreak can readily be found in gardens if certain conditions are favorable. During most of the year, it does not wander far from trees mfested with the semiparasitic Mistletoe (Phorandendron spp.), its larval food plant. So, if there are trees near your garden --- usually Elm (LAmus spp.), Hackberry (Celtis spp.), Honey Mesquite (Prosopis glandulosa), Live Oak (Quercus virginiana), or juniper (juniperus spp.)-with a healthy and thriving growth of Mistletoe, the Great Purple Hairstreak will be a regular visitor to nearby flowers. In some areas greater numbers of these butterflies can be seen in the spring or early summer, but there are almost always at least a few around, and any time this striking beauty is sighted is a special treat.
Some flowers regularly visited for nectar include fruit tree blossoms (both wild and cultivated) such as Peach and Plum. Others include Honey Mesquite, Redbud (Cercis spp.), Agarita (Mahonia trifoliata), Roosevelt Weed, Texas Kidneywood, Texas Snakewood (Columbrina texensis), Thoroughwort, various Asters, Englemann Daisy, Frostweed, Globe Amaranth, Golden-eye, Goldenrod, Hedge-parsley, Kalanchoe (Kalanchoe spp.), Texas Thistle, White Clover, Wild Onions and Woolly Ironweed (Vernonia lindheimeri).
The male is quite long-lived for a Hairstreak, often surviving three weeks or more. His chosen area for pursuing mates is usually very local, such as one particular tree and a very small surrounding territory. He usually perches in the open near the top of the tree from midday to dusk.
Larva: Pale green, with a darker stripe down the back and a yellowish stripe along each side;
velvety, with very short yellowish orange slug
Food Plants: Christmas Mistletoe (Phorandendron tomentosum) on Ash (Fraxinus spp.), Eastern Cottonwood (Populus deltoides), Elm (Ulmus spp.), Hackberry (Celtis spp.), Honey Mesquite (Prosopis glandulosa), Oak (Quecus spp.), Sycamore (Platanus occidentalis), and Willow (Salix spp.); juniper Mistletoe (Phorandendon juniperinum), and juniper (juniperus spp.)
Parts Eaten: Leaves
Why xeriscape to attract hummingbirds, butterflies, and/or bees? The importance of providing safe habitats for butterflies, hummingbirds, and other assorted creatures, including yourself.
Oscar the Grouch's Worst Mung Recipe -- Yum! Yum! Barf!
We hope you enjoy your visit.
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