Red-Spotted Purple Butterfly!

Identification: These two very different forms had once been considered separate species. WHITE ADMIRAL: Upperside is black with broad white median bands on both wings; hindwing has a marginal row of blue dashes and a submarginal row of red dots. Underside is reddish-brown with white median bands as on the upperside. RED-SPOTTED PURPLE: Upperside is blue to blue-green with much iridescence on the outer part of the hindwing. Underside is dark brown. Forewing has 2 red-orange bars near the base of the leading edge; hindwing has 3 red-orange spots near the base and a submarginal row of red-orange spots. The two forms hybridize where their ranges overlap, creating various intermediate forms which may be found in or near the overlap zone.

Life history: Males perch 3 feet or more above the ground on trees and tall bushes and rarely patrol for females. Eggs are laid singly on tips of host plant leaves; caterpillars eat leaves. Third-stage caterpillars hibernate.

Flight: Two broods from April-October.

Wing span: 2 1/4 - 4 inches (5.7 - 10.1 cm).

Caterpillar hosts: Leaves of many species of trees and shrubs including wild cherry (Prunus), aspen, poplar, cottonwood (Populus), oaks (Quercus), hawthorn (Crataegus), deerberry (Vaccinium stamineum), birch (Betula), willows (Salix), basswood (Tilia), and shadbush (Amelanchier).

Adult food: Sap flows, rotting fruit, carrion, dung, and occasionally nectar from small

white flowers including spiraea, privet, and viburnum. White Admirals also sip aphid honeydew. Habitat: The White Admiral form is usually found in the north in deciduous broad-leaf or mixed evergreen forests dominated by aspen or birch. The Red-Spotted Purple form is usually found further south than the White Admiral, in deciduous or mixed forests, moist uplands, valley bottoms, and coastal plains. Range: Alaska and subarctic Canada southeast of the Rocky Mountains to central Texas; east to New England and central Florida. Isolated populations in Arizona, New Mexico, and west Texas south into Mexico. The White Admiral form usually occurs north of a line through north central New England, New York, Pennsylvania, Michigan, and Minnesota. The Red-spotted Purple form is usually found south of this line. Much hybridization occurs where these forms meet. Comments: The Red-spotted Purple is a mimic of the poisonous Pipevine Swallowtail (Battus philenor).

Facts About The Tiger Swallowtail Butterfly!

Description

The tiger swallowtail is a large butterfly. On average, the length is 3 1/2 to 4 1/2 inches and the wingspan is 4 to 5 inches. Both species (males and females) are yellow and black with striped markings, resembling a tiger. However, the female eastern butterfly is the only one that has two forms. The other form is a dark color (a dark color replaces the yellow areas). The western swallowtails are normally more pale in color (yellow) and smaller in size than the eastern butterflies.

Habitat

Tiger swallowtails can be found throughout the United States. They prefer grasslands and woodlands but can live in other environments , including cities.

Diet

Butterflies do not actually eat; they drink liquids. They have a proboscis (a long tube in their mouth) that acts like a straw. Mostly they will drink nectar from flowers. Favorite flowers include the butterfly bush, zinnias, oregano, and the purple coneflower. They will also drink from overripe fruits.
Caterpillars do eat, mainly leaves. Preferred plants include wild cherry, birch, ash, willow, poplar, and aspen.

Life Cycle

A tiger swallowtail butterfly will go through four stages of life:
First is the egg. The female will lay her eggs on a plant that will provide nourishment once they hatch.
Second is the caterpillar (larva). The caterpillar hatches from the egg, eats its egg shell, and almost immediately starts eating leaves. It is initially brown in color but later turns green (it may turn back to brown before pupating). It makes its own nest by folding a leaf over and securing it with silk. The caterpillar can grow up to 2 inches long.
Third is the pupa. This is the resting stage as it transforms into a butterfly. A hardened case (cocoon) protects the pupa as it transforms. During this time, no eating or drinking takes place.
Fourth is the adult (butterfly). In about 1 month from the time the egg was laid, a beautiful butterfly will emerge from the cocoon. Butterflies do not grow once they emerge.