When I went out to get my newspapers this morning, I saw this lovely creature feeding on our pentas. It flitted around so quickly, that it was difficult to get a picture, but I managed to capture this one. I believe it's a swallowtail, but, in an online search, I could not identify the species of this one.
Below is Raoul, the cat who owns my daughter and her family, in a regal profile pose. He's handsome, isn't he? He's also crazy, but once they're yours, you must love them.
What beautiful photos, Mimi!
ReplyDeleteI am most impressed by the butterfly.
And I am most jealous of the obvious sunshine in your garden.
Over here, after weeks and weeks of rain, the guinea pigs in the garden are requesting swimming lessons.
Erika, we've had lots of rain here, too, but it's interspersed with sunshine.
ReplyDeleteThe pentas also attract hummingbirds and honeybees. All in all, they earn their keep, besides being colorful.
Get those poor guinea pigs water wings, at least.
It most certainly is a swallowtail, Grandmere. And no, I'm not at all knowledgeable about butterflies - it's that I have the Bronx Butterfly Garden Guide (after a wonderful visit last year!)
ReplyDeleteThe Bronx Zoo, that is!
ReplyDeleteMimi ... I see those around here too quite a bit, especially in late summer and through the fall. I always called them Tiger Swallowtails, but I went looking around just now and learned something new. There are Eastern and Western Tiger Swallowtails that are quite similar.
ReplyDeleteThe one in your picture looks very much like this one, an Eastern Tiger Swallowtail. Check this picture.
It says it is a freshly emerged female. Apparently the coloring goes through some changes throughout their lifespan. Also, there seems to be a difference between the upper- and undersides of the wings. The timing seems right because this is about the time of year we see all the tiger swallowtails.
I'm going to have to look more closely now because as I look at the pictures of both the Eastern and Western Tiger Swallowtails, they all seem familiar to me. I wonder if we get both types in this area.
Stunning feline, sitting on stunningly clean staircase. I'm confused - my fridge magnet tells me that only dull women have immaculate houses and your daughter seems far from dull... Does the cat do the cleaning?
ReplyDeletePanic over. I've just enlarged the photograph and it now looks much more like a real home. Your daughter doesn't have hidden dullness after all. We can rest easy.
ReplyDeleteRR, I pretty much knew it was a swallowtail from the shape of the bottom wings. The coloring was somewhat unusual, with the blue and rust colored spots. It seems to me that the ones I see the most are yellow and black only, with more black than this specimen.
ReplyDeleteMike, that is it, or close to it. The body coloring is different, but the colors could change over time. Thanks for the link.
Hi Ostrich. Welcome to my humble abode. My daughter's house is fairly new, and her three boys haven't had time to ravage it yet. She does keep a pretty neat house, if you don't look upstairs in the boys' rooms, but she's not dull.
ReplyDeleteRaoul has skin problems and is very jumpy and nervous. He attacked their friend who was caring for him while they were on vacation, scratching up his legs. The friend said he's never do it again. He's going to be a high maintenance pet.
Beautiful!
ReplyDeleteoh don't blame the kitty. If your daughter's friend has legs that just look like a scratching post its not Raoul's fault if he thought that it was a good place to sharpen his claws. I would suggest no more wearing of trousers made out of berber carpet around Raoul.
ReplyDeleteIf they had named him "Tabby" he would be pudding on a spoon. But, Raoul? They were done for the minute they gave him that name.
ReplyDeleteThe butterfly is lovely.
Two beautiful creatures there, grandmere. I searched a bit and also could not find a match for the butterfly. Maybe you have discovered a new specie!
ReplyDeleteI'm guessing that Raoul knows the answer to this mystery. You could try asking him, but honestly, he doesn't look like he's going to tell.
:)
Dennis, I believe that their friend was wearing shorts, and that's part of the reason that Raoul bested him.
ReplyDeleteElizabeth love, Raoul ain't no tabby. Of course, his name may have made him mean. That happens sometimes.
Scott, if Raoul saw that butterfly, he would have no good intentions toward the beautiful creature.
Raoul jumped from their high balcony once. He landed on all fours, but was not moving, Daughter rushed him to the vet, and he was unhurt, except for suffering from shock. I told you he's crazy.
Self-talk inside Raoul's head:
ReplyDelete"I'm a bird! I'm a cat! I'm a bird! I'm a cat! No, I'm a bird!"
Reminds me of a guy who went to therapy for weeks with the same issue...
Client: Doc, I still have the same problem. One day I think I'm a wigwam; the next day I think I'm a tepee. Wigwam, tepee, wigwam, tepee.
Therapist: I know what your problem is. Your just two tents.
Arrrrghhh...Fr. Scott is logging off now.
:*)
Yes, Scott, it's past your bedtime.
ReplyDeletemmmrrrrrroooowwwwww {hides her miter and casts flirtatious glance at Raoul}
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteAs cats go, I have to say this one's pretty regal. As cats go...
ReplyDeleteLove,
Rowan
Rowan, I know it took a lot out of you to say that - for a cat.
ReplyDeleteLove,
Mimi
I'm with Elizabeth on naming that cat. Cats understand their names. Don't ask me how but they do.
ReplyDeleteEllie, I don't know who came up with Raoul, nor where it came from, but Raoul he is.
ReplyDelete