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Butterfly Garden

Swallowtail madness!

13 years ago

Has anyone else noticed an explosion of eastern swallowtails this year? we are in zone 6b/7a in maryland and i have seen at least 4 or 5 times more tiger swallowtails than i have ever seen before. granted we have lots of plants that make them happy (joe-pye weed, poplar, lots of buddleias) but i've never seen so many before. at any one time i can circle our yard and count maybe 50-75 of them. in addition i have seen very few monarchs. in years past the ratio would have been about 70:30 swallowtails:monarchs on our property....this year it's more like 99:1. is it the heat? any effect from the snowy winter? anyone have an explanation?

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Comments (4)

christie_sw_mo
13 years ago
That's impressive! I'd love to have so many.
Do you know what they're using for a host plant in your yard?
puffkit
Original Author
13 years ago
we have lots of poplar and spicebush in the area....it seems everytime i look out there are more. i'm sure the extra hot summer has contributed.
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jane__ny
13 years ago
Is that photo 'photo-shopped?' Doesn't look real to me.
puffkit
Original Author
13 years ago
honestly it's real....is there a way to post the picture in this posting? that way it would be a bigger picture?.....i also have some shots of them on our buddleias.

by the way...saw two monarchs today...maybe they are on their way.

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?what to do with this little guy?

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