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This is a photo of my first butterfly (swallowtail) this year. Date was 7/01/16. Looking at last years records and photo dates, it shows I had many more starting around the beginning of June. Now the question is; are they going to show up at all this year? I do know the Tiger swallowtail is much more prevalent when the Rose of Sharon is in bloom, which won't be for another few weeks, maybe more. Whats everybody else seeing in your area?
Down here, it's almost always warm. But our year did start slow with the showing of butterflies. Over the past month though, with the blooming of the Mexican sunflowers and more recently the new seed-grown asclepias, we are loaded with Gulf frits, Monarchs, and Zebra longwings. The firecracker bush is over 20 feet tall and blooms sporadically year round, so always something for them to nectar on. Red, yellow and lavendar lantana too.
My fennel is behind, so no swallowtails yet.
I have only seen one giant swallowtail, which is attracted to our White sapote, but no eggs as of this date.
Last edited by TerraDown; 07-04-2016 at 07:29 AM..
Butterflies have been pretty scarce around here, too. I saw a black swallowtail yesterday and was actually startled to see it. But the hyssop is just starting to bloom and that is a known butterfly attractant, so we'll see. Interestingly, I didn't see a single butterfly on my butterfly weed. Lots of honey bees and some other small flying insect I don't recognize, but no butterflies.
Last year, I only saw one monarch all summer. One! And I have plenty of milkweed in my yard.
I had quite a few monarchs last year, and manys cats as well. This year I added common milkweed to my already abundance of swampweed, tuberosa, and tropical milkweed. I am now planting different varieties of viburnum to bring in the clearwing moth. I had a few two years ago, but not a one last year. Not to say they weren't here, just never saw one.
Forgot to mention, also have Cuban butterflies, the long tailed skipper, Orange barred sulfurs, and White peacock butterflies. Always hover bees and neon green and blue bees.
Last edited by TerraDown; 07-04-2016 at 12:11 PM..
I'm having great success with monarch caterpillars munching milkweed, and then forming chrysalises with butterflies emerging. But then they fly off not to be seen again. Generation One produced 25 and I had thought at least some would flitter into my yard for pollen and nectar. I have a variety of plants with various bloom colors. The one or two I do see seem to prefer light pink over red/dark pink, white, purple, yellow.
However, Generation Two caterpillars are now munching, so obviously some female(s) did return to lay eggs.
As for swallowtails, I've seen a couple. But yesterday I did notice that both my dill plants and flat-leaf parsleys have been munched. No evidence of swallowtail caterpillars though, so I can't know what's eating those plants.
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Now the question is; are they going to show up at all this year? I do know the Tiger swallowtail is much more prevalent when the Rose of Sharon is in bloom, which won't be for another few weeks, maybe more. Whats everybody else seeing in your area? 
And I have plenty of milkweed in my yard.
