I just found this on my flat leaf parsley today, its about an inch long. Another one is much smaller. Its not one I have ever seen before. Anybody know?
Hope you are all well...I have been to busy to ck the forum
Peg
Larvae ID Please
That is a BST in first or second instar Peg! I can't believe you have them laying eggs now either! This weather we are having must be really throwing them off. I will check parsley tomorrow! Geesze!
Are you really sure, I don't remember them looking like that at all? Call me confused.
OMG maybe your right, the color seems way off though these I just found are really black with more red. The one in the pic does look like it. And they would never go on the flat leaf parsley only the Italian.
Yes, that is for sure a BST. Here is a site I found with all of the stages pictured and info too.
http://www.pbase.com/rcm1840/lifecycleofblsw
Sheila, that is a good site for ID....look at this new pic, now that I look at it maybe its a Spicebush?
I agree about the stage of instar on the BST, that must be what it is.
I took the liberty of re-posting your pic, hope you don't mind.
Definately a strong possibility on the Spicebush. Read what the comparison site says about it.
Quoting:
Spicebush Swallowtail
Papilio troilus (Linnaeus), 1758
Click here for more pictures and information
Identification: Wingspan: 3 1/2 - 4 3/4". Superficially similar to Black Swallowtail (P. polyxenes), the other commonly observed dark swallowtail in Massachusetts. However, readily distinguished by checking the orange pair of spots on the inside corner of the hind wing (visible both above and below). In Black Swallowtail, this spot has a black center; in Spicebush it is clear orange. Marginal spots along fore and hind wings above are whitish to pale blue-gray in Spicebush; yellow in Black. Male Black Swallowtails have a bold yellow submarginal band across both fore and hind wings, which Spicebush never shows. The hind wings of male Spicebush above are a distinctive grayish or greenish blue, never present in Black.
I think your right, OH Goody another SWT.
Thanks for the research.
Glad to know they are down here too.
Hate to be a party-pooper, but this is a female Eastern Black Swallowtail (Papilio polyxenes). Spicebush Swallowtail has the band of color on the hindwing much higher up into the wing. We rarely get Spicebush in Dallas Co. (even more uncommon further west), although they will occasionally stray here from further east.
Well darn....can't blame us for wishing it so! LOL! Thanks for giving us your expert ID
...and spoiling our party! LOL!
It is always nice to see a "new face" in the yard, and is always possible. Here in the Dallas/Ft. Worth area we have four resident species of swallowtails (Pipevine, Eastern Black, Giant and Tiger), but occasionally others stray into the area. In my yard, just 20 miles south of Dallas, I've had the above four species plus Polydamas, Spicebush, and Ornythion, the last being the most surprising of all as it was way out of its normal range. Other swallowtails (Thoas and Broad-Banded) have been recorded for Dallas county way back in the 1940's. That's the fun part of butterfly gardening -- you never know who might drop in on a sunny day.
Back to the party (even if it is raining AGAIN!).
Dale Clark
Dallas County Lepidopterists' Society
www.dallasbutterflies.com
Pipevines have visited my yard and laid eggs too, but the Tiger is a fly through only. Seldom stopping to nectar even. With your huge gardens I am sure it is a stop on any butterflies' trail.
Wow, I am glad I checked this again, I have been going nuts trying to find the fine details on the one thought to be a spicebush.
I have been to my favorite spot DALLAS LEP. , but they no longer have a search for BT's. Dale, what happened to the site? Please, I need it for ID. LOL
The site is still up and running. Not sure what you're referring to by "a search for BT's". I've never had a search function on the site. If you go to www.dallasbutterflies.com look on the menu on the left and click on Butterflies of Dallas County. Scroll down to the swallowtails, click on the species you're interested in and you'll see the photos of the spread specimens and live shots as well.
Dale Clark
Dallas County Lepidopterists' Society
www.dallasbutterflies.com
Dale, the left side of my screen could only be half seen, and I have a big monitor. I see it now that you pointed it out. Ok, I am happy now! Thanks.