I saw a Buckeye Butterfly for the first time in my yard a little over a month ago and she has started a family. I found this beauty munching on my Snapdragons yesterday, the rain cleared out this morning so I could take her picture. The Adult feeds on nectar from Tickseed aka Coreopsis and the caterpillar eats Snapdragons. I just happen to have a Coreopsis planted right next to the patch of Snapdragons, how convenient is that. :-D This is the momma Buckeye I found last month
That was a happy coincidence Toni. Just wondering if you have you built up a complete list of butterflies that you have seen visit your garden?
Frank, I have been creating a file of sorts. When I ID a butterfly, I make a note on it's page in the butterfly books I have of when it was seen. I try to get my own picture of the butterfly, moth and/or caterpillar too, but if I can't then I will make a copy of a picture in one of my books to put in my garden planning book. Also, posting the picture and info on the Stew I can keep track of what I have too. So far I have seen and there have been several others that I have not been able to get to stand still long enough for a picture or at least so I can get a good look.... Giant Swallowtail Eastern Black Swallowtail Tiger Swallowtail Spicebush Swallowtail Red Admiral Buckeye Question Mark Cabbage White (but then who doesn't have those :-D ) Hackberry Butterfly Spotted Apatelodes Moth Banded Sphinx Moth
I've never seen his caterpillar. He is BEAUTIFUL. We have trouble with snapdragons and fungal diseases. Another food of his is plantains. Does that grow wild? Isn't the butterfly and understated beauty?
I must visit your crawlies more often. Very pretty. That caterpillar is wearing a smart tartan. If that is their food then snapdragons must be endemic to texas?
Aloes, Buckeye butterflies can be found everywhere in the U.S. with the exception of the far northwest ...Washington state, upper portion of Idaho and Montana. They will also eat Plantain, Firecracker plant, Butterfly Bush and a few others. I think Snapdragons will grow in just about all of the country too, here they are sometimes considered a tender perennial but mine did survive thru the ice and snow we had last winter, even stayed evergreen for the most part.
Butterflies and Moths I love to see both butterflies and moths, I think that moths can be a beautiful as butterflies... xxx
Someday I want a butterfly garden :-D . The kind where I do all the research and plant the right stuff for the right butterflys in my area . BUT for now I will just add it to my TO DO! Maybe someday!
I know snapdragons. They were so popular in "the good old days" but now I hardly see them. A butterfly hobby must be very interesting but not an option for me at the moment (just reminding myself).
I think buckeyes are so pretty! The caterpillar ain't too shabby either! Toni, I've been working on my butterfly garden, trying to get plants for just about everything I want to see...I am working on getting some Pipevines going from seed & I just got a paw paw and a senna tree. I've got snapdragons, but now that it has gotten so hot, they aren't thriving anymore.....
