Spent about 15 minutes trying to get a shot of this unusual swallowtail in my backyard this afternoon. I'm assuming it's a zebra swallowtail. It's much smaller than the other swallowtails, rather long and narrow, not the usual shape for a swallowtail.
Our butterflies are definitely late this year and far fewer of them than last year. I'd like to think that because they are so late and still hanging around our area that maybe we'll have a milder winter.
Triple purple datura, thanks to Lynne. It was hanging downward and when I tried to lift it to take a picture, it broke off so I had to take it while holding it in my hand. I have several others of the purple and several white ones to bloom soon.
Jarie
Rio Grande Valley, TX
Zone 9
This message has been edited by jas4141 on Nov 5, 2006 2:20 PM
Beautiful butterfly, Jarie!
It's actually a Zebra Longwing though, Florida's state butterfly.
The Zebra Swallowtail has the typical swallow tails. The Longwings also flutter more slowly than the Swallowtails, except when being chased, lol. A couple of them come through our yard every evening right before dusk. I haven't seen them make a pit stop in our yard yet, but it is nice seeing them fly through.
Always good to see the Daturas doing well, and that's a pretty one.
Diane, or anyone else, if you want some seeds, I have a ton, purple, white, and/or yellow, just let me know.
Lynne
USDA Zone 9b
Heat Zone 10
Bradenton, Florida
Me. too, Lynne - I think I shall never get through harvesting pods. They have bloomed so beautifully this year (and still are, for that matter) that I have an abundance of pods.
Lynne, thanks for identifying the Zebra Longwing for me. I was just guessing because he looked much like a swallowtail. I'm not very good at identifying butterflies as you can tell.
It was interesting watching him flutter throughout the yard...rather slowly as you say. Rather like floating. At first he wouldn't stop long on a zinnia but after awhile he got used to me and would stay long enough for me to shoot the picture.
He must be lost because he's a long way from Florida. Hope there's a female traveling companion so we get a strain started here in south Texas...joking of course. I'm sure there are plenty of them down here, just not in my yard.
I'm really enjoying the daturas, Lynne, even though they're quite late in my yard. They didn't seem to want to grow for me during the hot summer months but are doing fine now that it's cooled off. Do you think they'll continue to bloom into the winter months? They really are pretty. My first seedpod is almost full size on the white one but none yet on the purple yet.
Jarie
Rio Grande Valley, TX
Zone 9
This message has been edited by jas4141 on Nov 5, 2006 4:58 PM
My Triple White is the only one that has done anything this year and not like it normally does. My triple/double purples died back this past winter and the seeds I planted did not produce plants big enough to flower. I have tried to get some yellow seeds to grow but had no luck. Will look for more Purple and Yellow seeds in the spring to plant and save the seed pod from this one to plant as well
Jarie, I just happened to recognize the butterfly. Every new one I see in our yard, I pull out the good old Audubon field guide. Speaking of which, for the range on the Zebra Longwing, it says, "Resident from Texas to South Carolina, south through West Indies and Latin America, wandering to S. California, Great Basin, Colorado, and Great Plains." Also says the caterpillars feed on Passion Flowers.
The Daturas probably will keep going for you, the ones we had last year are still blooming today, made it through the winter with no problem, didn't look so great during summer, but are picking back up now that it has cooled off.
I'm a little upset that the seedlings that came out with so much white are now solid, dark purple though... I guess I can hope they'll go back to the white/purple mix next summer.
Lynne
USDA Zone 9b
Heat Zone 10
Bradenton, Florida
Linda, if you're having trouble with the yellow seeds, would you want to try seedlings? I might be able to ship a couple of them to you in spring, if you wanted? Or seeds, whatever, By the way, that's a very pretty white there.
Lynne
USDA Zone 9b
Heat Zone 10
Bradenton, Florida
I had triple bright yellow (which were supposed to be triple cream)and single white (which were supposed to be double purple). I ordered them from Seeds & More last year and they were labeled incorrectly. Boy, was I upset. The seeds took so long to germinate (30 days) and even longer to grow to flower (3 months), that by the time I realized they had mislabeled them, it was too late to reorder and replant. They jsut sent me the double purples, so at least I'll have them for next year...
Yours all look great - something for me to look forward to...
At first he wouldn't stop long on a zinnia but after awhile he got used to me and would stay long enough for me to shoot the picture. 
