Our butterfly garden is a Certified Monarch Waystation, but certainly all butterflies are welcome! Eastern Tiger Swallowtails like this pretty female are frequent visitors to the Common Milkweed that we planted to aid the declining Monarchs. Monarch caterpillars eat only milkweed, so it is essential to their survival.
For anyone interested in creating a Certified Monarch Waystation, Monarch Watch (a nonprofit educational outreach program based at the University of Kansas) is where to start. Here's a link: http://www.monarchwatch.org/waystations/
@pej Thank you! Females can be black or yellow like the male. When yellow, you can spot the female by the chain of striking blue spots on the edge of the hindwing. Happy spotting!
This is really a lovely tiger swallowtail - The detail and lighting are wonderful. I have seen so few swallowtails this year and no monarchs - so unusual. Have milkweed planted all over the back yard as well as butterfly bushes, etc. Just been a strange year.
@milaniet Thank you! I have not seen one adult Monarch this year, but I did see one Monarch caterpillar on the milkweed. Monarch numbers have declined so significantly. Hopefully, they'll make a comeback!
@janetb Even our nature centers - which have butterfly gardens - have had so few butterflies this year. I've been checking weekly for two months. Have seen a few spicebush swallowtails - but almost always in continual flight. Keeping fingers crossed.
@novab@elisasaeter@lyndemc Thank you all so much! I really appreciate you taking the time to comment on my photo. It has taken me a while to thank you, because I've been vacationing. I'm looking forward to catching up on all that's been happening on 365!
