With the warm climate,
butterflies are often in flight year round in
Floridian Nature. From the Giant Swallowtail to the Little Metalmark, the state
has a wealth of flittering, fluttering, flappers, and gliders
brightening the landscape. There are more than 17,000s different
species, or types, of butterflies. They come in many colors and live in
very different types of climates. In Florida over 180 different
butterflies have been recorded. Within that mix, some 40 are considered
either unique to the state or occur mostly within its boundaries,
Who doesn't want to
see beautiful butterflies visiting their Florida
garden?
Planning a butterfly garden in your yard helps attract a wide variety of
butterflies found in Florida nature. Creating a butterfly garden means
choosing plants that are high in nectar and plants in colors of red and
purple that butterflies find irresistible.
The Polydamus Swallowtail lacks the characteristic hindwings tails
common to most other North American members of the swallowtail family.
This trait combined with it's broad, yellow wing span of 4.0- 5.0
inches, makes this butterfly easy to identify. The Polydamus Swallowtail
is a fast and powerful flier with a preference to open areas. Primarily
a tropical butterfly, it is rarely found north of the Florida border.
This is a common butterfly of suburban and urban gardens. Adult
polydamus are good colonizers and readily disperse long distances in
search of suitable hosts.
