Ive, go ahead and bring them in! I always say that Black Swallowtails are the "meanest" ones because they are quicker to use their stinkhorns than anyone. Plus, they're really good at leaning their head back so they really smear it all over your fingers. But I always tell the guests that it's justified because unlike most other Swallowtails, the Black STs don't eat poisonous plants. In fact, I call them Herb-Stuffed caterpillars since they come naturally seasoned with dill, parsley, etc. So they have to be tougher because I'm pretty sure they taste better. Plus, watching them become chrysalises and then butterflies is so cool! Just watch out for the gut purge!
I just went out in my yard to pick food again. Plus, Dad was out there chainsawing things so I said hi to him. It's still the usual suspects with one new addition today.
The Zebra Longwings are in the butterfly garden right now. This one also has a huge clump of pollen on its proboscis. Isn't that so weird-looking? Before I knew they did that I saw one like this and started freaking out because I thought something was wrong with it and it had some mysterious substance stuck to it. "How will it eat if it has that all over its proboscis", I wondered. But a little internet research and I learned that was totally normal and actually good for it.
The Frits are mainly chasing each other around today but this one stopped to get its picture taken. How nice of it.
Now, I did see a Cloudless Sulphur today that I thought was headed for my Senna but then I lost it. And there was something that looked a lot like a Swallowtail flying over my neighbor's fence (what does he have back there that I don't have?). But the only other butterfly I got was this Dainty Sulphur. Now, at first I thought it was the Barred Sulphur because I see them, too. And I used to get them mixed up. But, when I was trying to get a picture, the butterfly landed where I couldn't see it underneath a leaf so I shook the plant a little to get it to move. And when I did I noticed her body was clearly bent like she was laying an egg - on the Spanish Needles! Which is the host plant for the Dainty Sulphur. Plus, I got my book out and compared pictures and now I'm convinced. I actually raised these guys once (because I want to raise all species at least once). The cats are so tiny I'm surprised I'm not permanently cross-eyed. Here's two pictures I managed to get of the butterfly today. Hopefully, she's out there laying eggs now that I'm not there to bother her.
