Giant Swallowtail is a crazy night owl!!!

17 years ago

I cannot believe it! Remember last week I mentioned getting home from work at 8:30 pm and finding a crazy female Gulf Fritillary laying eggs on the passiflora that is lit up at night by my security lamp?

Well...I got home tonight around 9pm and as I'm driving into my garage I see something flying around the security lamp. Am thinking it's another crazy Gulf Frit...but no...this time it's a Giant Swallowtail!!!

What is with these crazy south Texas butterflies????!!!! It's already dark outside at 9pm!!! Do I have a bunch of butterfly night owls on my hands or what???

And...to top it off there was also an American Snout clinging to the brick wall beneath the security lamp.

Ayeeeeeeeeee...I don't know what to think! The poor GST would flit around inside the lamp dome then settled down and perch on the brick wall.

Below is a photo of the GST and the American Snout under my security lamp. Sorry the photo is greenish looking - the mercury vapor bulb gives it that tint.

~ Cat

Image link:

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Comments (4)

MissSherry
17 years ago
I think your butterflies think they're moths! :)
That's the weirdest thing I've seen in the butterfly world in quite a while!
MissSherry
roselee z8b S.W. Texas
17 years ago
I think mercury vapor bulb security lights might become very popular among the butterfly lovers on this forum :-)
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texaspuddyprint
Original Author
17 years ago
Much as I am amused by the variety of butteflies staying up past their bedtime I must say there are far larger numbers of predators that come out at night and are drawn to the light in search of food...green anoles, geckos and all kinds of cinch and assassin bugs.

I found wings from a Giant Swallowtail about ten feet from where this light is braced. Although it's been several days I am assuming they were from the same butterfly as I've not noticed any other GSTs flying around the front walkway.

~ Cat

ps...I also saw a brown Long Tailed Skipper around 5:00 am on Saturday. That's another crazy butterfly I can add to the wanna be moth club.
emmayct
17 years ago
Cat, that's IT...I'm moving to Texas, pronto.

You have more and better butterflies at night than I have in the broad daylight!

Thanks for sharing the wonderful story!

Maryann