Butterflies and Moths

Orange-spotted Flower Moth

Orange-spotted Flower Moth (Syngamia florella)
This stunning moth is a true gem of the insect world. With its dark brown wings adorned with yellow patches and a striking red abdomen featuring two narrow bluish bands, it’s a sight to behold. That is if you look close enough. With a wingspan of about 15 mm they can easily be overlooked..
📍 Habitat: Found from South Carolina to Florida and from Arkansas to Texas, this moth also makes its home in the West Indies, Mexico, and even Argentina1.
🌼 Diet: The adult moths love to visit flowers, including dotted horsemint seen in this photo.
🗓️ Flight Season: While these butterflies migrate to northern areas during the warmer months, we can find them in Florida year-round.
Next time you’re out in a weedy or brushy area, keep an eye out for these small and beautiful moths.
Photo credit: Aymee Laurain
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White-topped Black Moth

The White-topped Black Moth (Melanchroia chephise) and Its Relationship with the Snowbush (Breynia nivosa)
If you examine the leaves of the snowbush (Breynia nivosa), you might spot a striking yellow caterpillar adorned with black stripes, feeding on its foliage. This caterpillar is the larval form of the white-topped black moth (Melanchroia chephise), a member of the Geometridae family, often referred to as “inchworms” or “spanworms” due to their characteristic looping movement.
Unlike most moths, which are primarily nocturnal, the white-topped black moth is an unusual daytime flyer. As adults, they have a wingspan of slightly over an inch, with velvety, dark navy-blue to black wings tipped in white on all four wings. The thorax is a vibrant orange, making them easily identifiable.
When laying eggs, this species is highly selective about its chosen host plants. The snowbush (Breynia nivosa) is the preferred plant for egg-laying, but the moth can also utilize other plants like the Otaheite gooseberry (Phyllanthus acidus), snow-on-the-mountain (Euphorbia marginata), and potentially the white sapote (Casimiroa edulis). Once the eggs hatch, the caterpillars emerge as voracious feeders, quickly consuming the leaves of the host plant.
While the caterpillars primarily feed on the leaves, if the leaf supply runs low, they may feed on the twigs and bark of the snowbush. Although this can cause significant defoliation, healthy snowbush plants are usually resilient and can recover from moderate caterpillar damage. However, in cases where the caterpillar population is high, and there are few natural predators, excessive feeding could lead to serious harm or even the death of the plant.
No intervention is necessary for those who appreciate the beauty and uniqueness of the moth and its caterpillar. However, if defoliation is a concern and the aesthetic of the snowbush is important, controlling the caterpillar population is essential. To manage infestations, regularly inspect the undersides of snowbush leaves for salmon-pink eggs, which can be manually removed and destroyed.
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Saltmarsh Caterpillar

The saltmarsh caterpillar (Estigmene acrea) (Drury) is a native insect found throughout the United States. It is common in the southern United States as a pest. Adults are large moths; wingspan can measure 3.5 to 4.5 cm and are very distinct. The wings are mostly white in color; there are generally many small, irregular black spots. The male hind wings are yellow, the underside may also have a yellow tint, and the female is white. The abdominal segments are yellow with a series of large black spots dorsally.
Females generally live only four to five days; however, they can produce more than one cluster of eggs. She can produce 400 to 1000 eggs in one or more clusters. Eggs are tiny and spherical; they are initially yellow and soon turn gray in color. Eggs will hatch in four to five days. There are five to seven instars.
Larvae are active dispersers, a behavior not typical among caterpillars. Late instar larvae will move over the soil searching for food and can be found individually or in groups. Caterpillars damage crops, mostly during fall. With each succeeding instar consumption of plants doubles. When pupation occurs, they are on the soil among leaf debris. When pupation is complete, it is dark brown, measuring 30 mm, and lasts about 12 to 14 days.
Broadleaf weeds are the initial host plants for this species, though larvae will commonly disperse late in the growing season to damage vegetable and field crops. The favored weed host are usually pigweed (Amaranthus spp.); however, many others can be consumed, such as anglepod (Gonolobus spp.).; sicklepod (Cassia tora); dog fennel (Eupatorium capillifolium); ground cherry (Physalis spp.); and mallow, (Anoda spp.).
Agricultural management commonly used insecticides on saltmarsh caterpillars. Baits are not an effective method to manage the species. Physical barriers can be used such as ditches or trenches with steep sides to prevent the invasion of crops.
Cool Fact! Saltmarsh caterpillar’s name is derived from being a pest of Saltgrass hay grown around Boston. Though ironically, grasses are not a preferred host plant.
Photo Credit: Lynn Marie
Author: Destiny Alvarez – Fisheries and Wildlife Sciences, University of Oregon
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Southern Pearly Eye

The Southern Pearly Eye (Lethe portlandia) has a wingspan of 2¼ – 2¾ inches. The antennal club (the tip and thickest part of the antenna) is orange. As caterpillars, they are green or brown with thin, light stripes, two short tails, and two reddish horns on green heads. As chrysalis (pupa) they are little green pendants that often dangle from a host plant stem. Their host plants are Canes (Arundenaria spp.). They are most active on cloudy days and at dusk.
Cool Fact: Cocoons and chrysalis are often used interchangeably when discussing moths and butterflies, but they are two completely different things! Moths form cocoons, whereas butterflies form chrysalis.
Photo Credit: Lynn Marie
Author: Destiny Alvarez – Fisheries and Wildlife Sciences, University of Oregon
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Webworm Moth

– Webworm Moth –
The Ailanthus Webworm (Atteva aurea) adults are considered good pollinators. The host plant, Tree of Heaven (Ailanthus altissima) is a non-native plant in Florida that the Ailanthus Webworm will use for laying eggs. Caterpillars will emerge and feed on the leaves. This species also use two native Florida plants. Both are Paradise Trees, Simarouba glauca, and Simarouba amara.
Photo Credit: Lynn Marie
Author: Destiny Alvarez – Fisheries and Wildlife Sciences, University of Oregon
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Three spotted Skipper

Three spotted Skipper (Butterfly)
The Three-spotted Skipper (Cymaenes tripunctus) has a wingspan of 1 1/8 – 1 3/8 inches. The wings are a dull dark brown, and the upperside of the forewings (front wings) has three transparent white spots on the edge near the tip and 2-3 spots at the end. The underside of the hindwing (back wing) is yellow-brown with pale spots near the center.
Females lay eggs on top of the host plant’s leaves. The host plant for this species is Guinea grass (Panicum maximum). The caterpillars will eat and live in nests of the rolled leaves. Their habitats are subtropical grassy areas.
Photo Credit: Lynn Marie
Author: Destiny Alvarez – Fisheries and Wildlife Sciences, University of Oregon
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Phaon Crescent

The Phaon Crescent, Phyciodes phaon, can be found throughout Florida. Look for these common butterflies
with a wingspan of 1 – 1 1/2 inches fluttering low to the ground.
Phaon Crescents produce several broods each year. Their habitats include disturbed areas, pastures, canal edges, dunes, and roadsides. Frogfruit, also known as turkey tangle fogfruit, is their larval host plant. If you would like to attract these beautiful butterflies to your yard, consider planting a ground cover of native Frogfruit.
Photo Credit: Dan Kon
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Atala Butterfly

The Atala butterfly, Eumaeus atala Poey, was considered extinct from 1937 – 1959. Its host plant, coontie (Zamia integrifolia Linnaeus. f.) was once overharvested by settlers for starch. Today, sightings of Atala butterflies are still rare. The butterfly naturally resides in Palm Beach, Broward, and Miami-Dade counties and has been introduced into Collier, Martin, and Monroe counties.
The Atala butterfly is a hairstreak whose wing measures 3/4 – 1 inch. An iridescent teal ring encircles the eyes, and three rows of iridescent teal dots are found on the wings. The butterfly has a bright red spot on the underside and a reddish-orange abdomen. The bright colors on both the adult butterfly and the caterpillar are a warning of toxicity to predators who might eat them.
Female Atala butterflies lay a cluster of around 60 eggs on the coontie’s new leaves. The 1-inch caterpillars are bright red with 2 rows of yellow dots. Adult Atala butterflies may live up to three weeks.
Atala caterpillars destroy the foliage of the coontie, but this hasn’t stopped homeowners and gardeners from planting the native plant. The caterpillar’s fecal droppings provide a perfect natural fertilizer for the coontie plant. The Atala butterfly reminds us to #PlantNative
Photo Credit: Bobby Putnam
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Luna Moth

Luna Moth
The adult Luna moth, Actias luna (Linnaeus), can be found every month of the year in Florida’s forests. They range from southern Canada to Florida and as far west as Texas. This large green moth has a wing span of 3–4¼ inches.
The luna moth lays eggs, and the caterpillars are bright green. Host plants include sweet gum, sumacs, hickories, persimmon, and plants in the walnut family. The adult moth cannot eat and only lives long enough to mate, and lay eggs. You will be lucky if you encounter one of these beautiful moths while sauntering through the woods.
Fun Fact: The Luna moth appeared on a first-class United States postage stamp issued in 1987.
Photo Credit: Andy Waldo
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Great Southern White

The Great Southern White, Ascia monuste, is found primarily in coastal habitats. Look for them at beaches, in salt marshes, and along roadsides.
These beautiful white butterflies have a wingspan of 1 .75 to 2 .25. Males have a black zig-zag pattern on their outer forewing.
These common butterflies produce multiple generations each year. Great Southern Whites use plants in the mustard family as larval hosts. These include pepper grass, saltwort, limber caper, and sea rocket.
Photo Credit: Andy Waldo
Washington Oaks Gardens State Park
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Pearl Crescent Butterfly

The Pearl Crescent, Phyciodes tharos, is a small butterfly with a wingspan of only 1 1/2 inches at most. It can be found throughout Florida in moist, open areas.
Plant asters in your garden to attract Pearl Crescents. The female will lay up to 200 eggs on the underside of the aster’s leaves where the caterpillars will feed. Adults sip nectar from a wide variety of flowers including milkweed, Spanish needle, and dogbane.
Pearl crescents tend to fly low to the ground where they will land on a rock or shrub.
Photo Credit; Aymee Laurain
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Gray Hairstreak

Gray Hairstreaks, Strymon melinus, are common butterflies found from southern Canada, throughout the US, and as far south as Venezuela. These are small butterflies with a wingspan of only 7/8 – 1 3/8 inches. Male Gray Hairstreaks can be found perching on shrubs and small trees as they await the arrival of a receptive female.
Females lay their single eggs on the flowers of their chosen host plant. Host plants include clover, mallow. pea, and a diverse variety of other plants. The fruits and flowers provide meals for younger caterpillars while older caterpillars dine on the leaves.
Look for Gray Hairstreaks in open and disturbed areas where native plants including goldenrod, dogbane, clover, and milkweed thrive.
Photo Credit: Dan Kon
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Gaudy Sphinx

The Gaudy sphinx, Eumorpha labruscae, is a common and vibrant green moth whose range is from Argentina to Canada. Host plants include muscadine grapes, Christmas bush, and other vines. Pupae climb down into the soil where metamorphosis takes place. They emerge as adults. Females release pheromones at night to attract males who follow the scent.
Photo credit: Aymee Laurain
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Scarlet-bodied Wasp Moth

The Scarlet-bodied wasp moth, Cosmosoma myrodora, is a stunning moth found throughout Florida and coastal areas in the southeastern U.S. Males have filament containing pouches on the abdomen called flocculence. During mating the male will hover over the female and discharge the flocculence, creating a net over her before attempting to mate. These flocculence’s are a visible white.
The larvae emerge from the eggs appearing as tiny white hair-covered caterpillars. These hairs are called setae and help form the cocoon. Cocoons are constructed under leaves and are mesh-like balls. Larvae feed on native hempvines.
Adult males feed on dogfennel and pass the toxin, pyrrolizidine alkaloids, obtained from the plant to females during courtship as a way to protect eggs from predation. Some parasites are still able to get past these defenses. These include Hyphantrophaga sellersi and Tetrastichinae parasitoids.
Photo credit: Aymee Laurain
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Polyphemus Moth

The Polyphemus moth, Antheraea polyphemus, is a giant silk moth that can be found from Mexico to southern Canada and in every US state except Nevada and Arizona. The moth’s wingspan measures 4 – 6 inches. Colors vary and include gray, tan, and brown with shades of red, yellow, and pink. Polyphemus moths have large eyespots on their hind wings and were named after Polyphemus, the giant cyclops from Greek mythology with a large eye in the middle of his forehead. The male’s (pink pictured) antennae are bushier than the female’s (tan pictured) antennae.
 
Females produce 2 broods each year. In Florida, newly emerged Polyphemus moths can be found year-round. Because of their vestigial mouthparts, they cannot eat. A newly emerged female will release a pheromone to attract a male. The dating game lasts throughout the night with the most activity a few hours before sunrise. The pair will remain coupled all day before separating at sunset. For the next several nights, the female will lay single eggs in groups of two or three on a leaf of an oak tree or other desirable host tree.
 
Look for these moths near man-made light sources. Of concern is the Polyphemus moth’s attraction to mercury vapor lights that may distract them from mating, thus impacting their populations in cities and neighborhoods. (Worth and Muller 1979)
 
Photo Credit: David Gale (pink)
Photo Credit: Erin James (tan)
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Eastern Black Swallowtails

Black Swallowtail (Eastern)

Eastern Black Swallowtails, Papilio polyxenes, are also known as American swallowtails. They are commonly found throughout Florida in gardens, along the sides of roads, in pastures, and in parks. Three or more generations are produced each year.

A female black swallowtail lays a single yellow egg on a host plant in the carrot family. The caterpillar is green with black stripes and yellow spots. If parsley or dill was chosen as the host plant, the hungry parsley caterpillar will devour the plant in your garden.

Photo credit: Nancy Kon

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Zebra Swallowtail Butterfly

Zebra Swallowtail Butterflies, Protographium Marcellus, can be found in scrubs, along waterways and roadsides, and near forests, With a wingspan of 2 1/2 to 4 inches, prominent black and white zebra stripes, long black tails bordered with white, and a red median stripe, these beautiful native butterflies are hard to miss.

Consider planting the butterfly’s larval host plant, a Pappaw tree, in your garden to attract Zebra Swallowtail Butterflies to your outdoor space.

Photo Credit: Dan Kon

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Viceroy Butterfly

The Viceroy Butterfly, Limenitis archippus, is often mistaken for a Monarch Butterfly. While they both have the same orange and black colors, the Viceroy butterfly has a black line across its tailwings. In northern Florida, Viceroy butterflies are an orange color like Monarch butterflies. In southern Florida, Viceroy butterflies are a darker orange similar to Queen butterflies. Birds do not like the taste of Viceroys, Monarchs or Queens.
The host plants for Viceroy butterflies are willow trees. Explore meadows, alongside ponds and streams, swamps, roadside run-off ditches, and other wet areas where willows are present. Adult Viceroys have a wingspan of 2 1/2 to 3 inches. Females lay a single green egg on the tip of a willow leaf .
Fun Fact: Viceroys and Monarchs mimic each other. Mullerian mimicry occurs when 2 species evolve to resemble each other in color for protection from predators. In this case, neither butterfly is a tasty meal for birds, therefore, together they contribute to the survival of both species. – Ritland 1991, Ritland & Brower 1991
Photo Credit: Andy Waldo
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White Peacock

White Peacocks, Anartia jatrophae, are common butterflies found on roadsides, near the edges of ponds and wetlands, and in fields and parks with low growing vegetation. They can be seen year-round flying low to the ground where their favorite low-growing nectar plants thrive.

White Peacocks lay a single egg on or near a host plant such as frogfruit or water hyssop. They live for about 4 months and their wingspan reaches 2 – 2.75 inches.

Photo Credit: Andy Waldo and Aymee Laurain

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Cloudless Sulpher

Cloudless Sulpher

Cloudless sulfurs, (Phoebis sennae), live in Florida year-round. These beautiful, bright yellow butterflies are hard to miss with their wingspans of 2 – 3 inches. Look for them in sunny, open areas such as along roadsides and in pastures, fields, and meadows.

Cloudless Sulfurs can be seen in large numbers during the fall migration season. Many spend their winters in Florida south of Gainesville. Nectar plants include red morning-glories, scarlet creeper, and cypress vine, scarlet sage, and Salvia. Cloudless Sulfurs prefer various species in the pea family as host plants where females lay a single egg.

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Ceraunus Blue Butterfly

 

Take time to stop and look at the little things.

With a wingspan of only 1 to 1 3/16 inches, the Ceraunus Blue Butterfly (Hemiargus ceraunus fabricius) is easy to overlook. This tiny butterfly is commonly found flitting just above the vegetation in sunny habitats, including parks, scrubs, along roadsides, and your Florida landscape.

Look for the prominent orange-rimmed black marginal spot on the hindwing. Females are usually a darker blue. Tiny blue eggs are laid on the flower buds of herbaceous legumes. The host plant provides food for the larvae with flowers, buds, and new growth. Multiple generations are born each year.

Photo Credit: Aymee Laurain, Andy Waldo, Lynn Marie

 

 

 

 

 

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Ornate Bella Moth

Most moths are nocturnal, meaning they are only seen at night but, this beautiful moth, the Ornate Bella Motha (Utetheisa ornatrix), can be seen fluttering in the daytime. A very distinguishing feature of this species of moth is the bright pink color seen when flying. When at rest, this coloring is often covered by the top wings. Their coloration greatly varies, which for a long time confused taxonomists who had multiple names for the species based on their appearance. It turns out they were all a single species.

These beauties can be seen through most of the Eastern United States through the Midwest. The eggs are small yellow spheres. The larvae are an orange color with black patches and white spots with many hair-like structures called setae. The pupae are encased in a brown and black sac covered in a light coat of silk. A common native host plant for these moths is the Crotalaria avonensis, a beautiful plant with yellow flowers. These plants produce pyrrolizidine alkaloids, which are toxic to many species, but not the ornate Bella moth. These moths consume the plants and thus become toxic themselves. This toxicity protects them for the short three weeks of their life.

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Cassius Blue

Cassius Blue (Leptotes cassius) is a common but beautiful little butterfly. It can be found in scrubs, open fields, or residential areas. They lay their eggs on flowers rather than leaves. Larvae feast on the leaves and seeds. They are small butterflies and can often be mistaken for a dried leaf. This little one was resting on a Simpson stopper and enjoying the sun.

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Saddleback Caterpillar

Saddleback Caterpillars (Acharia stimulus) have hairs that cover their bodies, which secrete venom. Contact with the hairs will cause a painful rash, burning, itching, swelling, blistering, and nausea. The cocoon and the larvae have hairs as well. The hairs are hollow quills connected to poison glands beneath its skin. The venom will spread if the hairs are not removed from the skin.

Saddleback Caterpillars are easy to distinguish by their green-colored backs with a white-ringed, brown dot in the center. They are brown at either end, have skin with a granulated appearance, and sport pairs of fleshy horns. The Caterpillar is one inch long with a slug-like body in its larvae stage.

The Saddleback Caterpillar is a general eater and can be found in oak trees, fruit trees, and many other plants. Females lay up to 50 eggs on the top leaves of a host plant. The eggs are tiny and transparent with a scaly look.

The adult Caterpillar is the Saddleback Caterpillar Moth, which is dark brown with black shading. The dense scales on its body and wings make it look furry. The back wings are a lighter brown. The wingspan is between one to two inches wide. Near the front wing is a single white dot and another 3 white dots near the front apex.

The bright colors on this Caterpillar are a warning to predators. Never touch this or other brightly colored, hairy Caterpillars with your bare hands.
You can remove the hairs from the skin by using tape.

Photo Wikimedia Commons

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Florida Leafwing

The Florida Leafwing (Anaea troglodyta floridalis) is native to Florida. It can be found in the pine rocklands of Florida. The Leafwing was once found throughout Miami -Dade, and Monroe counties. This imperiled butterfly is now found in only one place on Earth, the Everglades National Park. The causes of its decline are the destruction of pine rockland habitat, the introduction of exotic plants and insect species, fire suppression, the use of insecticides for mosquito control, and collecting.

When in flight, the Florida leafwing’s upper side of its wings is red or bright orange. At rest, the lower side of the wings are visible and are brown or gray, which makes the butterfly look like a dead leaf. The front wing is slightly hooked, and the back wing has a pointed tail. Its dead leaf coloration is effective camouflage in its rockland habitat. A leafwing’s wingspan is between 3 to 31/2 inches wide.

Eggs are laid on the leaves of the host plant so caterpillars can eat the leaves. Young caterpillars will make a resting perch from a leaf vein. The older caterpillars live in a rolled-up leaf.

Florida leafwing caterpillars feed only on pineland croton (Croton linearis), its larval host plant. This shrub grows in the understory of pine rockland habitat. Leafwings are dependent on the health of their host plant. The croton and other plants in the pine rockland are dependent on fire to maintain an open rockland where it reduces the competition and infestation of non-native species.

The Florida Leafwing is federally endangered. Scientists at the Everglades National Park are working with conservation groups to ensure that the endemic Florida leafwing does not disappear into extinction.

Photo credit: USFW

 

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Schaus’ Swallowtail

The Schaus’ Swallowtail (Heraclides aristodemus ponceanus) is a large black and yellow butterfly endemic to Florida. This butterfly is found only in Florida and is restricted to intact tropical hardwood hammocks.

The Schaus’ swallowtail was listed as a federally threatened species on April 28, 1976. It was reclassified as a federal endangered species on August 31, 1984. Population estimates range from 800 to 1200 individuals. It remains the only federally listed butterfly in Florida.

Once ranging from the Miami area south through the Florida Keys, the Shaus’ swallowtail is currently restricted to only a few remnant tropical hardwood hammock sites on the south Florida mainland, northern Key Largo, and several small islands within Biscayne National Park. Adults fly slowly and leisurely and are very adept at flying through the dense hardwood hammock.

Adults have a wingspan range of up to 2.3 inches with females being the largest. Males have yellow-tipped antennae. Their wings’ upper surface is black with a row of yellow or white spots and a broad yellow or white band. The hindwing tails are outlined in yellow. The undersides of the wings are yellow with brown markings and a broad blue and rust-colored band.

The Schaus’ swallowtail produces one generation each year from April to July with the peak time occurring typically from mid-May to mid-June. Adult emergence and reproduction are correlated with the beginning of the Florida rainy season. However, the pupae may remain in diapause for more than one year if optimal weather conditions are not present. Females lay green eggs singly on new growth. The developing larvae then feed on the young growth.

Listed as an endangered species, threats to the remaining population include the loss of genetic diversity due to inbreeding, climate-related impacts such as drought, habitat disturbance from fire, tropical storms or hurricanes, mosquito spraying, and loss of habitat. Hurricane Andrew left behind only 73 butterflies in 1992 after sweeping through the butterflies’ home range. Because their habitat is limited, it is possible that a single hurricane can make the Schaus’ Swallowtail extinct. However, the protected status and their rebounding numbers after Hurricane Andrew bring renewed hope that this gorgeous butterfly will survive and thrive in our beautiful state.

Photo credit:entnemdept.ufl.edu

 

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Miami Blue Butterfly

Miami Blue Butterflies (Cyclargus thomasi bethunebakeri) are as big as a blueberry and have a dandelion puff’s weight. They were once found abundantly through 700 miles of Florida coastline, up and down both Florida’s coasts and the Florida Keys. Their preferred habit is the beach berm. These butterflies pollinate the shoreline which helps prevent shore erosion. Due to the development and remodeling of the natural seashore and mosquito control spraying, Miami blues were unofficially declared extinct after Hurricane Andrew wiped out their last known colony in 1992.

Wildlife biologists found a couple of small populations in an uninhabited island in the Florida Keys Wildlife Refuge and began a breeding program. The butterfly uses two coastal plant species to lay its eggs, blackbead and gray nickerbean. Each can be found in abundance on many of the untouched Key Islands. These plants are ideal for the butterfly which feeds on new growth found on the branch end in its caterpillar stage.

Adult Miami blues have a lifespan of between one and two weeks. They will stay within 30 feet of their birthplace. During that time, the females will lay between 20 and 100 eggs a day on host plants. It is suspected that when there is no new growth on the plants for them to feed on, ants colonies are store the butterfly eggs until more favorable conditions arise for them to hatch and become caterpillars. In exchange for this, the ants receive a sweet sugar substance from the caterpillar cocoon and do not harm it.

Miami blues are an endangered species and part of a 25-year long conservation effort. Vulnerable to hurricanes and climate change, this endemic butterfly can now be found only in Key West National Wildlife Refuge.

Photo: Mark Yokoyama

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Eastern Tiger Swallowtail Butterfly

The Eastern Tiger Swallowtail Butterfly (Papilionidae) can be found from Ontario, Canada, down to the Gulf states, and west to the Colorado plains. There are 10 swallowtail species in Florida. The most familiar is the yellow and black striped Eastern Tiger Swallowtail, which can be seen from the Georgia border south to the Big Cypress Swamp.

The Eastern Tiger Swallowtail has an average wingspan of 2 1/2 to 4 1/2 inches. They enjoy the nectar of many plants, including wild cherry, honeysuckle, lilac, Joe-Pye weed, azalea, and milkweed.

The swallowtail in the first picture is identified as a male because there is no blueish coloring in the hindwings. Although some females are melanic (dark-colored), the second picture is of the most common color seen on females.

An adult swallowtail’s lifespan is only about 2 weeks. They produce 2-3 broods a year in the south. Females lay a single egg on host leaves. Caterpillars will eat the leaves and rest on silken mats on the upper surface of the leaves. The caterpillar is brown and white when it is young, but it changes color as it grows older to green with orange and black false eyespots. The eyespots are thought to scare away predators.

Photo credit: Dan Kon and Christian Kon.

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Gulf Fritillary Butterfly

The Gulf Fritillary Butterfly (Agraulis vanillae) can be seen playfully frolicking throughout Florida from forest floors to urban landscapes. The life of a Gulf Fritillary usually starts as the tiny larvae emerge from their eggs, which the mother usually lays on a passionflower vine. This little red caterpillar with black spikes quickly begins munching on the passionflower leaves. In about 20 days, the caterpillar goes into its chrysalis to pupate. You can see in this first picture the Chrysalis is forming by breaking the skin. The exoskeleton of the caterpillar will form the chrysalis, which looks like a dried leaf. This camouflage helps protect the caterpillar during this vulnerable stage. In about 5 days, the butterfly will emerge with its beautiful red, black, and white wings. When the butterfly is ready, it will search for a mate who will help bring about the next generation of Gulf Fritillaries. These butterflies can mate while in flight, and it can be fascinating to watch their graceful dance.

 

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Monarch Butterfly

The Monarch Butterfly population is in trouble due to loss of habitat, pesticides, and climate change. As the only butterfly which migrates, a single monarch can travel hundreds to thousands of miles. Monarchs are born with an internal compass that guides them on their migration. Each year, three to five generations will be born. A Monarch’s lifespan is6 – 8 months but will live only 2-6 weeks as a butterfly.

—— You can Make a Difference —–

Plant native milkweed and nectar plants that have been grown organically.
Milkweed contains glycoside toxins that are harmless to the Monarchs but is poisonous to its predators.

—– Conservation Begins in Your Backyard ——

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Zebra Longwing Butterfly

The Zebra Longwing Butterfly has been the Florida state butterfly since 1996. Starting as tiny yellow eggs, they grow into caterpillars, which are white to pale yellow and have black spines. Like all butterflies, they enter another stage of metamorphosis by developing a chrysalis. The color of their chrysalis can change depending on the surface it is attached to. This is an evolutionary mechanism they acquired a long time ago. Once the butterfly reaches adulthood, it becomes a beautiful pollinator like the one shown feeding on a shepherd’s needle.

 

 

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