Eastern Tiger Swallowtail Butterfly (Papilio glaucus)

Pine Flatwoods, Oak Hammock, Swamp

Diet: Larva – willow, ash

Adults – nectar, puddling Males are always yellow but, females have two color forms, the yellow and an almost black form that mimics the distasteful pipevine swallowtail. Males of most butterfly species congregate in large groups in damp or dried up puddle sites on dirt paths, an activity called puddling. Here water evaporates, leaving concentrated minerals such as sodium. Using saliva exuded through their proboscis, butterflies suck up these minerals.

Palamedes Swallowtail Butterfly (Papilio palamedes)

Oak Hammock, Swamp

Diet: Larva – red bay & sweet bay

Adults – nectar Found in swamps throughout Florida the palamedes swallowtails are reported to roost communally in oaks and palmetto trees. A double set of orange and black eyespots marks the head of the bright green caterpillar. Just behind the head of all swallowtail caterpillars is a forked gland, called the osmeterium, which releases a bad smell in order to repel small predators.

Giant Swallowtail Butterfly (Papilio cresphontes)

Pine Flatwoods, Oak Hammock

Diet: Larva- citrus

Adults – nectar, puddling One of Florida's largest (4-5") butterflies, the giant swallowtail prefers open woods and citrus plants. The brown or olive larva, resembling large bird droppings, usually have red scent horns on the head used to locate food. Known as "orange dogs" by citrus growers, the larva can become serious pests in orange groves. Strong fliers, the adults continuously flutter their wings as they gather nectar.

Red Admiral Butterfly (Vanessa atalanta)

Oak Hammock, Swamp, Marsh

Diet: Larva – nettles Adults – sap, fruit, nectar Easily recognized by its distinctive red forewing band, adult red admirals fly in a quick, erratic manner. Red admirals are often seen perching on low vegetation or on the ground in the sun drinking from flowers or fruit. Unafraid of humans, adult butterflies may alight on visitors.

Zebra Longwing Butterfly (Heliconius charitonius)

Pine Flatwoods, Oak Hammock

Diet: Larva – passion flowers

Adults – nectar The Florida state butterfly, with a 3-3.5" wingspan, the longwing is part of the brush-footed butterfly family whose adult members have tiny hairs on their forelegs. Larva eat passionflowers which contain poisonous alkaloids making them distasteful to predators such as birds and lizards. Found in shady areas, these butterflies fly slowly through low lying vegetation.

Viceroy Butterfly (Limenitis archippus)

Pine Flatwoods, Swamp, Marsh

Diet: Larva – willow

Adults - nectar Viceroys have developed protective features in every life stage. Eggs laid on willow leaves blend in with nearby leaf galls. Caterpillars, mottled brown with a saddleback design, have 2 bristles behind the head. The chrysalis looks like a bird dropping. The viceroy butterfly resembles the distasteful monarch and queen butterflies, species in which both the adults and the caterpillars are toxic to predators. Easy to recognize in flight, adult viceroys glide, then flap wildly, then glide.

Zebra Swallowtail Butterfly (Eurytides marcellus)

Pine Flatwoods, Oak Hammock

Diet: Larva – pawpaw

Adults – nectar, puddling Most abundant of the kite swallowtails, butterflies named for their long pointed tails, the zebra swallowtail is found close to pawpaw plants. The green and black striped caterpillar develops into a 1" long green or brown pupa. All butterflies undergo complete metamorphosis with 4 distinct life stages – egg, caterpillar (larvae), which grows through multiple stages, or instars, shedding its skin each time, pupae (chrysalis), and butterfly.

Luna Moth (Actias luna)

Pine Flatwoods, Oak Hammock

Diet: Larva – tree foliage, including sweet gum

Adults do not eat A giant silkworm moth, lunas live a very short life and are not commonly seen. Adults do not eat, only mate, lay eggs, and die. Called a "moon moth" after the crescent moon shaped eyespots on the wings, the luna is a strong nocturnal flyer easily attracted to lights. Bats eat the thick bodies, discarding the wings, often on the ground under night lights. Only found in North America, similar "moon" moths are found in Africa and Asia.