Breaking from my usual blathering about birds, today I would like to share a few insect friends who brightened my day a week or so ago.
The Daily Bucket is a regular series from the Backyard Science group. Here we talk about Mother Nature in all her glory, especially the parts that live nearby. So let us know (as close as you are comfortable) where you are and what's going on around you. What's the weather like? Seen any interesting plants, bugs or critters? Are there birds at your feeders? Deer, foxes or peahens in your yard? Seen any cool rocks or geological features? Post your observations and notes here. And photos. We like lots of photos. :)
As more of our property reverts back to a, shall we say, less tended state (yeah, that's it ;) ), we've found a much more diverse crew manning the grounds. Over the last few years, we've seen all kinds of new critters - evening primrose moths, calligraphy beetles, all manner of spiders and several kinds of bumblebee, just to name a few.
One thing I have looked for but not found in any quantity is butterfly caterpillars. We allow the native food plants, like milkweed and nettles, to grow unrestrained in the weedy spots and I even encouraged wild violets as a ground cover in one area. In spite of this, I've rarely seen caterpillars on them.
This past weekend, I was weeding Queen Anne's Lace, a carrot relative, from a garden path when I noticed a small green worm with black stripes. After rushing for my camera and a guide book, roughly in that order, I identified my little friend as a Black Swallowtail caterpillar, Papilio polyxenes. They're also known as carrot worms for their diet of carrot leaves and other umbillifers, like fennel and dill.
One exceptionally cool thing about these caterpillars, which I discovered by accident, is they have horns and they're not afraid to use them! As a defense mechanism, they'll suddenly poke these horns out at predators. I can attest to the fact it is very startling the first time you see it! Sorry I don't have a better picture - here's a link to a better shot.
And a short video.
Here's what the butterfly looks like.
My next encounter also deals with another swallowtail but this one is an Eastern Swallowtail, Papilio glaucus, in butterfly form. I have been concerned over the general lack of butterflies for the past few years so any sighting is welcome. When I saw this one fluttering around on the other side of the garden, I almost bowled my darling spouse over in my hurry to get there with a camera! And here's what I saw.
Now, what pretty creatures have you seen flying about in your backyard?
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