A friend found this cat. on her patio. I thought it might have been a TST, but the black line is throwing me off.
Any help would be appreciated.
Please help with an I.D.
Since you haven't gotten an answer, try putting it on the insect identification thread. Great that you have a picture...did you release it or raise it?
I can't remember if TSTs have stripes. I know Zebras STs do, but they don't have false eye spots like your cat has. I've only raised Tigers once and it's been a long time ago; can't remember for sure. What plant did you find it on or near?
I think you are right Melanie. This is the only pic on DG bugfiles of a Eastern Tiger, but looks like it does have a stripe when this color. http://davesgarden.com/guides/bf/showimage/6371/
Yep....another on this website. http://bugguide.net/node/view/77494
This message was edited Aug 20, 2011 9:18 PM
I think the stripe doesn't appear until the last instar. I wish I could find a Tiger. I've had them lay on my cherry tree once, but that was a while ago.
I see Tigers come through and nectar often but never laying eggs. Guess they are up in the top of the ash trees.
In WV I found some eggs on tulip poplar, but when I took them home (to FL) and fed them cherry they didn't make it. Maybe it's a regional thing? The ones I had that were laid on cherry ate cherry just fine. I wish I had the opportunity to raise more so I could learn more about them.
Thank you for the responses. I am not sure what my friend has growing in her yard. She sent a message with "look what my dogs almost ate." I haven't asked her since how it is doing. I gave her the advice that I have read on this forum (give it plenty of parsley or dill, put it in an aquarium with a screen over it, and a stick inside... etc) and hoped for the best.
I sure see a lot of TSTs around. I always thought (only because of where I live) that they were Western TSTs. I never looked up the range for either the Western or Eastern. That is maybe why I didn't think the cats matched? How interesting to me. I wish I could get a cat or two, the butterflies are so friendly! I have followed FlyboyFl's thread on "A stranger came to visit" and just smile with excitement when I read how people raise cats, and how much better the odds are if a person intervenes.
About two weeks ago I saw either a monarch, or viceroy (I am not sure how to tell the difference even after looking at online pictures LOL) I got so excited, grabbed my camera, and ran out to the butterfly weed where it was. Of course it took right off, and I never saw it again.. my TSTs will let me get literally within inches (sometimes they land on me), and are not camera shy at all. It was a lesson to me, that I wont soon forget.
That Tiger ST doesn't look like Eastern Tiger. Let me check more.
No, that is the Western Tiger for sure. We don't get it here so I wasn't thinking about you being in CA. It's cat also has simular markings when it is about to pupate. http://bugguide.net/index.php?q=search&keys=western+tiger+swallowtail&search=Search
Melanie do you agree?
This message was edited Aug 20, 2011 10:39 PM
I will attach another photo of another little friend. I guess I should look more closely also...
This is our Eastern Tiger ST for comparison.
Great shots btw.
Just see you aren't in CA but in CO! I still think it is not the Eastern TST.
This message was edited Aug 20, 2011 10:45 PM
I'm in Colorado Sheila... I don't know if that makes a difference? WOW! I really do like that site! DonnaB mentioned that it looked like it was a TST about to pupate.
Thank you so much for helping me ladies!
Thank you Sheila! They are so fun to photograph!
Ohhh she is so pretty!
So... WTST ready to pupate. :o) I should really ask her how it's doing.
Duh, I should have looked at where you were from. Funny the little differences between east and west. There's a Canadian Tiger ST, too just to make things more confusing! We have too many East Coast people on this forum; I'm glad the West Coast got some butterfly representation!
Melanie