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Fritillary Butterfly on Mexican Sunflower
Tithonia of the Asteraceae Family
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| Porterweed and Passion Fritillary |
Sulfur Butterfly on Hummingbird Bush
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| Hairsteak and Purple Coneflower at the Lavender Farm, June 16, 2018 |
Monarch or Queen
June 16, 2018 Lavender Farm
Monarch, Queen or Viceroy
Monarch or Queen
June 16, 2018 at the Lavender Farm
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| Red Admiral (Vanessa atalanta) Purple Butterfly Bush (Buddleia 'Lo and Behold Blue Chip') Hybridized |
Crescent on Blackfoot Daisy
Crescent on Blackfoot Daisy
Pearl Crescent
on Blackfoot Daisy
Pearl Crescent and Silvery Checkerspot, Chlosyne nycteis are similar.
There is nothing more delightful than watching a butterfly skip along a flower bed on a warm summer day. I have a carpet of perennials that bloom from March through Winter. The first blush is a mix of Louisiana Phlox and purple Iris. After these fade the Purple Coneflower comes on full strength and tolerates that early summer heat and then the blue mistflower covers as the coneflower fades. All of these flowers have colors that produce that Ah feeling of relaxation as you passively enjoy your butterflies after a long day at work. Nectar Plants
These are the plants that the adult butterflies feed on. These flowers contain nectar which is basically sugar water. The nectar is vital to the survival of the butterfly.
Bee Balm. Bee Balm or monarda is a tall and very showy plant. The Peter's Purple variety does well along the outer edge of the butterfly garden. It is a great perennial, flowering in the early spring (April). It does seem to attract more bees than butterflies but butterflies are attracted to masses of color and this is an entire cheer leading squad of purple pom poms. 
Four O'clock. Easy to start from seed is the characteristic that jumps first to mind when considering this perennial. Four O'clock plants are a tall forb with a surprising feature, the flower color can be yellow, white, red or magenta or a combination of these colors. Mirabilis jalapa, Mirabilis means wonderful. Native of Peru. 
Flame Acanthus. Hummingbird bush has a red tubular flower. The shrub is deciduous. Since hummingbirds tend to be territorial the feeding function of this flower is generally reserved for the hummingbird from my observations.Joe-Pye Weed. A tall forb, joe-pye weed is located in a back corner of my yard.
Lantana. Several lantanta in gold and red form a mass of color to attract butterflies in a full sun setting.
Lantana urticoides, also known as West Indian shrubverbena, Texas lantana or calico bush, is a three- to five-foot perennial shrub that grows in Mexico and the U.S. states of Texas, Louisiana and Mississippi especially along the Gulf coast. The plant can blossom from spring until the first frost. It is a species of flowering plant within the verbena family, Verbenaceae.
Passion Flower. This vine hosts the larvae of Gulf Fritillary or Passion Butterfly (Agraulis vanillae).
Purple Coneflower. Grown enmass, for May nectar. Easy to start from seed and tolerates many soil types and water restrictions.
Dotted under the native oaks are five mature abelia shrubs. When Jack, Sadie and I take our morning stretch I enjoy waking to the soft floral scent of the abelias. Jack and Sadie are on the trail of nocturnal invaders, usually our nemesis, the squirrels. Sometimes those noses smell bacon frying at the neighbors house as their minds shift to breakfast ideas for themselves.
Monarchs
Black Swallowtail Butterfly | Papilio polyxenes
Favorite Nectar Plants: Nectar from flowers including red clover, milkweed, penta, and thistles.
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Black Swallowtail, Papilio polyxenesPink Penta Flowers |
The Caterpillar
When they emerge from the egg, black swallowtail caterpillars are small, brownish and hairy. They later develop a white stripe and resemble bird droppings, which makes them easy to miss. More mature caterpillars (later "instars") develop a striking black and white stripe with a pattern of yellow blotches and can grow to as much as 2 inches in length. Like other swallowtail caterpillars they have a distinctive horn-like structure behind their heads that they will raise if they feel threatened.
When they emerge from the egg, black swallowtail caterpillars are small, brownish and hairy. They later develop a white stripe and resemble bird droppings, which makes them easy to miss. More mature caterpillars (later "instars") develop a striking black and white stripe with a pattern of yellow blotches and can grow to as much as 2 inches in length. Like other swallowtail caterpillars they have a distinctive horn-like structure behind their heads that they will raise if they feel threatened.
Host Plants for the Black Swallowtail Caterpillar
Fennel, parsley, dill, rue
Leaves of plants in the parsley family (Apiaceae) including Queen Anne's Lace, carrot, celery and dill.
Fennel is a food plant consumed by the caterpillars of the black swallowtail butterfly. Swallowtails are the largest species of butterfly in the Unites States and among the most beautiful.The black swallowtail is so widespread that it is sometimes known as the American swallowtail.
Place your fennel plant in an area that receives at least six hours of full sunlight each day. Provide high-quality, well-drained potting soil if growing in a container, or well-drained garden soil if growing in the ground. Plant in spring after all threat of frost is over. Space fennel plants at least 12 inches apart.
Water once or twice per week as necessary to keep the soil slightly moist. Fennel plant tolerates drought but performs best when watered regularly. During extreme heat, container-grown plants may require daily watering. Never allow the soil to dry out completely.
Stake the fennel plant if it's growing in a windy location to prevent damage. Once the plant reaches 18 inches in height, place a stake in the ground and use garden twine to loosely secure the plant's stalk to the stake. This will prevent it from falling over during heavy winds.
Apply a 4-inch layer of organic mulch over the soil surrounding fennel plant in late fall, just before the first frost of winter in your area. This will prevent the plant from sustaining cold damage. Remove the layer in spring after all danger of frost has passed to allow new growth.
Prune fennel plant to the ground after the first hard freeze of the year. This will help the plant survive winter. Cut back branches by several inches throughout the growing season to promote a bushier growth habit, if desired.
Remove faded or dying flowers from your fennel plant, a process known as deadheading, to prevent aggressive re-seeding. Allow some flowers to remain and turn to seed to replace plants that die, but remove most flowers for the best results.
Fennel, parsley, dill, rue
Leaves of plants in the parsley family (Apiaceae) including Queen Anne's Lace, carrot, celery and dill.
Fennel is a food plant consumed by the caterpillars of the black swallowtail butterfly. Swallowtails are the largest species of butterfly in the Unites States and among the most beautiful.The black swallowtail is so widespread that it is sometimes known as the American swallowtail.
Fennel
The fennel plant, also known as Foeniculum vulgare, grows natively in the Mediterranean and is cultivated throughout the world in temperate regions. A tender perennial, fennel plant reaches up to 5 feet in height and produces aromatic leaves and seeds often used for culinary purposes. Fennel self-seeds easily and typically reaches maturity in about 100 days. Gardeners also value the plant for its ability to attract beneficial insects to the garden, particularly the caterpillar of swallowtail butterflies. Hardy in zones 5 through 10, fennel requires only minimal care to grow and thrive in most areas of the United States.Place your fennel plant in an area that receives at least six hours of full sunlight each day. Provide high-quality, well-drained potting soil if growing in a container, or well-drained garden soil if growing in the ground. Plant in spring after all threat of frost is over. Space fennel plants at least 12 inches apart.
Water once or twice per week as necessary to keep the soil slightly moist. Fennel plant tolerates drought but performs best when watered regularly. During extreme heat, container-grown plants may require daily watering. Never allow the soil to dry out completely.
Stake the fennel plant if it's growing in a windy location to prevent damage. Once the plant reaches 18 inches in height, place a stake in the ground and use garden twine to loosely secure the plant's stalk to the stake. This will prevent it from falling over during heavy winds.
Apply a 4-inch layer of organic mulch over the soil surrounding fennel plant in late fall, just before the first frost of winter in your area. This will prevent the plant from sustaining cold damage. Remove the layer in spring after all danger of frost has passed to allow new growth.
Prune fennel plant to the ground after the first hard freeze of the year. This will help the plant survive winter. Cut back branches by several inches throughout the growing season to promote a bushier growth habit, if desired.
Remove faded or dying flowers from your fennel plant, a process known as deadheading, to prevent aggressive re-seeding. Allow some flowers to remain and turn to seed to replace plants that die, but remove most flowers for the best results.
CHRYSALIS
Once the butterfly emerges from the chrysalis it will take about 1-2 hours for it's wings to expand. It is rewarding to watch the butterfly emerge from the chrysalis. If you find a chrysalison a plant, bring it inside your home put it at eye level so you can observe it. You will see it change colors before it emerges. You might even be able to see the wings through the chrysalis before it is ready to emerge. Keep it away from pets. The chrysalis should hang downward from where it is attached to the plant. You can make a safe house from pvc pipe and 8 corner pieces and draw a mesh laundry bag over the pvc frame. Or.... you can simply tape the plant over the desk where you work with the chrysalis hanging down and observe it that way. When it emerges it needs something to hold onto while it's wings expand. Be gentle with it for placement outside. The swallowtail is generally in the chrysalis 7 days before it emerges.
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| Black Swallowtail-female (Papilio polyxenes) |
Gulf Fritillary | Passion Butterfly
Agraulis vanillae
Lantana camara, nectar host plant for butterflies
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| Gulf Fritillary (Agraulis vanillae) Ventral (underside) view |
Common Buckeye (Junonia coenia)
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Buckeye Butterfly
The Buckeye Butterfly, Junonia, likes open areas with low vegetation and some bare soil. Junonia are commonly known as Buckeyes, Pansies, or Commodores.
Host Plants for Buckeye Caterpillar: Plants from the Plantain family (Plantaginaceae), including Angelonia (Angelonia), snapdragon (Antirrhinum), toadflax (Linaria), and plantains (Plantago); and the Acanthus family including ruellia (Ruellia). Drummond's ruellia or Drummond's wild petunia (Ruellia drummondiana) is a Texas native that will host the larvae of the Buckeye Butterfly. LBJWC
Once the larvae have formed a chrysalis and matured it will emerge as a butterfly seeking nectar plants. Favorite nectar sources are composites including asters, chickory, gumweed, knapweed, and tickseed sunflowers
BUTTERFLIES IN TEXAS AND WHAT THE EAT
Butterflies
American Lady (Vanessa virginiensis)
American Snout (Libytheana carinenta)
Black Swallowtail (Papilio polyxenes)
Brazilian Skipper (Calpodes ethlius)
Broad-winged Skipper (Poanes viator)
Carolina Satyr (Hermeuptychia sosybius)
Ceraunus Blue (Hemiargus ceraunus)
Clouded Skipper (Lerema accius)
Cloudless Sulphur (Phoebis sennae)
Cobweb Skipper (Hesperia metea)
Common Buckeye (Junonia coenia)
Common Mestra (Mestra amymone)
Common Sootywing (Pholisora catullus)
Dainty Sulphur (Nathalis iole)
Delaware Skipper (Anatrytone logan)
Dotted Skipper (Hesperia attalus)
Dun Skipper (Euphyes vestris)
Dusky-blue Groundstreak (Calycopis isobeon)
Eastern Comma (Polygonia comma)
Eastern Tailed-Blue (Cupido comyntas)
Eufala Skipper (Lerodea eufala)
Falcate Orangetip (Anthocharis midea)
Fiery Skipper (Hylephila phyleus)
Funereal Duskywing (Erynnis funeralis)
Giant Swallowtail (Papilio cresphontes)
Goatweed Leafwing (Anaea andria)
Gorgone Checkerspot (Chlosyne gorgone)
Graphic Crescent (Phyciodes graphica)
Great Purple Hairstreak (Atlides halesus)
Gulf Fritillary (Agraulis vanillae)
Hackberry Emperor (Asterocampa celtis)
Hayhurst's Scallopwing (Staphylus hayhurstii)
Henry's Elfin (Callophrys henrici)
Horace's Duskywing (Erynnis horatius)
Juniper Hairstreak (Callophrys gryneus)
Juvenal's Duskywing (Erynnis juvenalis)
Large Orange Sulphur (Phoebis agarithe)
Little Wood Satyr (Megisto cymela)
Little Yellow (Pyrisitia lisa)
Long-tailed Skipper (Urbanus proteus)
Monarch (Danaus plexippus)
Morning-glory Prominent (Schizura ipomoeae)
Northern Cloudywing (Thorybes pylades)
Northern Sicklewing (Eantis tamenund)
Orange Skipperling (Copaeodes aurantiaca)
Orange Sulphur (Colias eurytheme)
Pearl Crescent (Phyciodes tharos)
Phaon Crescent (Phyciodes phaon)
Pipevine Swallowtail (Battus philenor)
Queen (Danaus gilippus)
Question Mark (Polygonia interrogationis)
Reakirt's Blue (Echinargus isola)
Red Admiral (Vanessa atalanta)
Red-banded Hairstreak (Calycopis cecrops)
Sachem (Atalopedes campestris)
Silver-spotted Skipper (Epargyreus clarus)
Silvery Checkerspot (Chlosyne nycteis)
Sleepy Orange (Abaeis nicippe)
Southern Broken-Dash (Wallengrenia otho)
Southern Cloudywing (Thorybes bathyllus)
Southern Dogface (Zerene cesonia)
Southern Hairstreak (Satyrium favonius)
Southern Skipperling (Copaeodes minima)
Tawny Emperor (Asterocampa clyton)
Texan Crescent (Anthanassa texana)
Viceroy (Limenitis archippus)
Western Pygmy-Blue (Brephidium exilis)
Zebra Heliconian (Heliconius charithonia)
Caterpillar Plants
Althea
Asclepias (milkweed)
Blue Bonnets
Clover
Catalpa
Dill
Esperanza
Fennel
Hackberry
Holly
Ironwood
Lantana
Mallow
Mullein
Oak
Parsley
Passionvine
Pipevine
Redbud
Snapdragon Vine
Sumac
Sunflower
St. Augustine
Texas Persimmon
Thistle
Wax Myrtle
Willow
Wooly Croton
Nectar Plants
Aster
Butterfly Bush
Clover
Echinace
Lantana
Marigold
Milkweed
Thistle
Verbena
Vetch
REFERENCES
http://dallasbutterflies.com/Butterfly%20Gardening/Host%20Plants%20by%20Butterfly%20Species.htm?fbclid=IwAR24_8ZgsetmMJNqR2Je9HrMDsx_J2017Duc2rzE-HZF2VhSEd49zrPNJHI
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