I was late to work yesterday and my heels sank into the duff as I explored the leaves on my asiminia parviflora. I now have cats I've waited 2 years for. And SO many more eggs! Regrettably, i go out of town this w/e and can't take them with me. Fortunately I have a cover for the tree to protect them from lizards and birds. I'm so psyched!
Cruddy pic but you get the idea. better pics later when DH comes home.
Wow margaran, that's great!!!
Zebra swallowtails are my favorite! They're so much fun to raise. I'm surprised it took them that long to find your plants. I planted three small a. parviflora last fall and had a caterpillar on one a few weeks ago. It surprised me!
Melanie
Much better pics. I'm thinking 2nd instar.
Maggie
An egg on a leaf.
I've never seen any Zebras up this far north but I may have to get an Asimina to try and lure them. The cats are so cute.
Ummm...are you sure that isn't a different kind of swallowtail? I've raised dozens of ZST and the cats do not look like that. They are striped and they don't have any protrusions like your cat. Also, they don't mimic bird droppings in any of their instars, nor do they have false eyespots. Your cat is some kind of swallowtail, but I don't think it's a ZST.
Now that you mention it, it kind of looks like a Spicebush or Palamedes Sw cat, maybe?
Cool pic of an egg that the other cats declined to consume.
Thanks Guys. I did some more digging and you're right. The plant is Spicebush (bought several plants at the same time for cats). That's what happens when you lose the plant tag. Thanks for setting me straight.
Mellie, where did you get your cats? I want to raise some of those.
Maggie
Well, I've had one on my asimina so far, but mostly I get mine from a certain area of land owned by the county where technically all the plants and animals are protected by law. Some call it a "preserve". I figure I'm just borrowing the animals as I put them back after they're butterflies. : )
Sounds like you're protecting them from decimation!
Maggie
Well, they do ok on their own. The preserves here are one of the few places I even see the ZST because it's about the only place pawpaws grow. I see a few pawpaws around the cow pastures but that's about it. I just think it's sad that more people don't get to see them because they are beautiful butterflies, and they fly unlike the other swallowtails.
Melanie
Wow, that's great! I just found a couple of little Spicebush ST cats also! I didn't really expect them this early, but I'm SO happy to see those again! That looks so much like the ones I've raised!
I just noticed...you've got a lot! And you've only got one plant? Hmm...fertilize it NOW!
Will do! I've got it covered with a flow through stuff- like frost cloth to keep the birds, etc out. We'll see what happens.
Maggie
Congrats Maggie!!!
It is such a good feeling to select a not so common larval host plant for butterflies to use and then have them actually use it!!!
Well I consider asimina and spicebush uncommon as they are not grown here. I mean lots of folks have milkweed, fennel, rue, dill, canna and aristolochia etc. for the real common butterflies...but to attract something many people don't get to see very often is great!
That's how I feel about my Guava Tree. Bought it specifically for the Guava Skipper and it always thrills me to get several broods a year. Am still waiting for Vitex to attract the Gold-Spotted Aguna Skipper :o)
~ Cat
Grats!!! What kind of Spicebush is it Mag? I should put one in myself.
Jack,
It's Lindera benzoin. I've had it for 2 years. TPP- thank you for your kind words!
Maggiue
Thanks....I am on it. I will start looking for one tomorrow. Isn't a unique thrill to see the little cats for the first time! I planted Parsly last year, quite on accident. And Mid season I found something like 20 swallowtail cats on it! I was running about like a child, calling friends of mine and family...lol After that I was hooked. This is my first year of serious research and planning for my Moms Garden.
Peace
