Posted by Karen Taylor on January 13, 2015, 7:38 am
I was able to video a butterfly laying eggs in a lime tree outside my back door yesterday, but I don't know what kind it is. If you have an idea, please respond here. This was incredible to watch. Thank you! Karen
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Re: Does anyone know what kind of butterfly this is?
Hi Karen. This is almost certainly a papillionid swallowtail and if I had my guess, I think this is the ruby-spotted or red-spotted swallowtail (Papilio anchisiades). A really great video of the female ovipositing her eggs (which is, by the way, the most typical way for butterflies to do so). I was an avid entomologist many years ago - La Manz. is a delight in that department...
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Re: Does anyone know what kind of butterfly this is?
Looks to me like a Pink-spotted Swallowtail, Papilio pharnaces. They have 2 rows of spots. This family lays its eggs on citrus, so you may see some caterpillars on your trees!
Lisa
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Re: Does anyone know what kind of butterfly this is?
Good one, Lisa. You nailed it! I stand happily corrected. Definitely Papilio pharnaces, now that I look at the video again and see other images online. So, a consensus had been reached it seems - mystery solved, Karen...
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Re: Does anyone know what kind of butterfly this is?