Swallowtail Butterflies in our Backyard

        We have enjoyed 89 different species of birds in our backyard since moving to Florida.  But Florida is rich in it's butterfly population as well.  We have worked hard (especially Joan) trying to make our yard as butterfly friendly as possible and the results have been very successful.
        Today we feature some of Florida's Swallowtail butterflies that have visited our backyard.  Swallowtail butterflies are colorful members of the family Papilionidae which consists of more than 550 species, including the largest butterflies on earth.  Unlike most butterflies, Swallowtails flutter their wings while feeding, making it ideal for those "open wing" photo opportunities.

        First up is the Spicebush Swallowtail.  They reside in the eastern U.S and have a wingspan of between 3 to 4 inches.  The name comes from it's host plant the Spicebush.  The Spicebush Swallowtail is the state butterfly of Mississippi.

SPICEBUSH SWALLOWTAIL

        Next is the Zebra Swallowtail.   The distinctive black and white striped-pattern, wing shape and very long tails make the Zebra Swallowtail easy to identify.  This species is native to the eastern U.S. and has a wingspan of between 2 1/2 to 4 inches.  It uses a variety of Pawpaws as host plants.  The Zebra Swallowtail is the state butterfly of Tennessee.

ZEBRA SWALLOWTAIL

        Next is the Black Swallowtail.  This species is distributed across much of North America east of the Rocky Mountains.  Slightly smaller than the Spicebush and Zebra, it's wingspan ranges from 2.7 to 3.3 inches.  The Black Swallowtail uses a large variety of host plants.  The Black Swallowtail is the state butterfly of Oklahoma.

BLACK SWALLOWTAIL

        Last, but not least, is the Giant Swallowtail.  Widely distributed, the Giant Swallowtail can be found in North and South America.  With a wingspan of between 4 to 6.3 inches, it is the largest butterfly in the United States and Canada.  This species uses a wide variety of nectaring host plants.

GIANT SWALLOWTAIL

        Click on a photo to see it in a larger frame.  Thanks for tuning in....tweet.....tweet!!