Emerged yesterday! Giant or Ornythion Swallowtail?

Got home from work at 830pm and noticed one of the swallowtail chrysalids I'd been babysitting since October eclosed! It was already night-time so I didn't release it until this morning. Took some photos for grins and then realized it doesn't quite look like a Giant Swallowtail. It doesn't have the yellow tail spots and the wing markings are a bit different. Am thinking perhaps an Ornythion Swallowtail which is rare for us. Am waiting for email back from our local NABA chapter for a positive identification.

Either way it's warm fuzzy time to have a butterfly emerge after having the chrysalis gathering dust for four months!!! Still have another two to go.

~ Cat

This message was edited Feb 8, 2007 9:54 AM

WOW -- that is stunning!!

I agree with you TPP, looks like an Ornythion to me. The tails don't have the yellow centers like the BSW.

Beautiful!

Great news! It is an Ornythion Swallowtail!!! Just got the email from NABA :o) As far as they know, nobody has raised an Ornythion! Woohoo doggie!!! I am lucky!!! This is the third year in a row I've made some waves :o) First, was finding the rare Marius Hairstreak caterpillars on my duranta back in 2005, then I got a once in a lifetime photo of a Ceraunus Blue caterpillar with its ant organs protruding back in 2006. Now in 2007 I've raised an Ornythion caterpillar and released the healthy adult that emerged.

~ Cat

This message was edited Feb 8, 2007 12:54 PM

yea big Congrats Cat!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Wow! Neato! Their cats look like the Giant, don't they?

TPP - That butterfly is just gorgeous! They are big, aren't they? They are almost the size of a small bird. :-)

Congrats TPP!

Way to go TXPP!!!

Here's a photo of the caterpillar from back in October. Dratted bug had been overwintering since then. Now that I know it turned out to be a rare Ornythion I can really say this bugger was definitely worth the wait!!!

~ Cat

ps...it was using citrus (orange) as a larval host. Actually just figured it was another Giant Swallowtail :o)

This message was edited Feb 8, 2007 9:50 PM

Beautiful Cat. The photo of the caterpillar looks like it has yellow and purple in it. Did it? Or did it look just like the GS?

Hi all, I will try to keep this short, but I could use advice. My 6 yr old daughter found caterpillar on my parsley. I looked it up and sure enough we had eggs, cats and caterpillars of the black swallowtail. They were running out of parsley so I bought more, left some cats on the original plant and quick put together an inside house for the others. They went to school, one even became a butterfly while there. Now...all were set free back in Nov. (I think it was Nov.) 2 are left in the chrysalis and are still on my back porch. Are they ok? If they are when should I start keeping watch for them to emerge?

2nd pic
Thanks for the help.
Chris

Karen...

It looked a little different from the GST cats - as you can see in the photo...but I figured it was still a GST - you know how they can vary in color. I thought it was strange that it had more yellow and purple/blue coloring but again, didn't think much of it. Had looked through Jim's cat book but didn't see a photo I could compare it to....and never even thought it was going to be something other than a GST. I was pleasantly surprised!!! I still have three others I'm babysitting. Can't see anything different between the chrysalides. Time will tell :o)


Chris,

Keep babysitting those chrysalides. Several species stay in the chrysalis stage for several months (even years) to emerge. Just make sure predators (spiders, wasps etc) can't get to them.

~ Cat

Wonderful Cat!!

Chris, that's a good thing that the Black Swallowtail chrysalises haven't eclosed. They will have a much better chance if they make it through the winter and emerge once spring is here. In spring the more numerous flowers will provide nectar for them and there will be more host plants actively growing for their caterpillars to use.
Mmm, beautiful Ornythion cat...love those colors!

They will emerge from their chrysalis when they are ready. What will be will be. I do know that Swallowtails are very hardy and resourceful butterflies.

Chris - Just give the chrysalis time. They are not dead. They are on their own inner clock.

Thanks everyone,
Sorry I highjacked your thread cat, didnt realize. I reposted in the forum.
That really is an awesome looking caterpillar.
Chris

Chris,

No problem...just keep babysitting those chrysalides :o)

~ Cat