Tag Archives: Southwest Florida gardens

And the cycle continues.

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I have never seen so many polydamas swallowtails in my garden at once until yesterday. There were five fluttering about, one of which was leaving behind a ton of eggs, continuing the amazing cycle of the butterfly.

The polydamas lays yellow to orange eggs in clusters of 10 to 14, which can typically be spotted on newly developed stems, or growing tips, of the Dutchman pipe. The butterfly tends to lay its eggs on the Dutchman pipe that are in sunny areas, although the caterpillars have a higher survival rate in the shade.

The eggs can be yellow to orange in color and 1 mm in diameter. As they mature the eggs will turn a greenish color as the larvae develop.

The turquoise

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The great southern white butterfly has had a very successful last couple of days in the butterfly house. We’ve had one emerge daily, with today being the most at six. My favorite part of this butterfly are the tips of the antennas. Look at that turquoise. Breathtaking.

This species is definitely in an abundance in and around the garden with lots of pepperweed for it to lay eggs on, and lately enjoy the red penta.

The great return

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The Great Southern White butterflies have returned to the garden. I have noticed them almost daily now hovering and landing on their host plant, Virginia peppergrass (pepperweed). This plant grows freely all over the yard. It probably started pushing through the dirt last month. The best part, it is now growing in numerous places in my designated, safe space, garden area.

The female, which can be a dirty to gray, white coloring, with black forewing apex, and a black forewing cell spot, have sure been busy. The female lays yellow, spindle-shaped eggs, either single, or in clusters. The photographs, below, show the eggs in clusters.

My favorite distinction of this butterfly is the amazing turquoise antennal clubs. They are absolutely stunning. The wingspan of this butterfly ranges from 45 to 58 mm.

Oh, happy day!

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Oh, happy day!!! The first time since that dreadful Hurricane Ian impacted our area in September 2022, has the state butterfly returned to our oasis.

My daughter and I became very distracted when we went outside to witness the solar eclipse today!! Yes, we are butterfly people!! This zebra longwing captured our attention and kept it for quite some time as we watched her leave behind eggs. The pure joy that radiated off of both of us when spotting the zebra longwing, and noticing what she was doing, is indescribable.

So, needless to say we took the plants that I spotted eggs on and put them into a little enclosure in hopes we will have some successful hatches and the caterpillars create chrysalis.

Carry me along

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While standing in the garden watching an orange barred sulphur depositing eggs on my Bahama cassia tree, a monarch pair flew by grabbing my attention. I of course followed the pair while it landed on my neighbor’s tree.

I have read that mating monarchs can remain together for 16 hours or longer. It’s not until the very end of their attachment that the sperm is transferred to them female. The fertilization of the egg does not occur until right before the egg is laid on the host plant.

During mating, the male will use its claspers located on the end of its abdomen, to attach to the female’s ostium bursa.

My house seems to be a magnet for caterpillars, as I have found tons of chrysalis everywhere, and not just monarchs. If you look in the background, there is an empty gulf fritillary chrysalis.