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Home > Blogs > Birds and Butterflies > Archives > 2008 > July > 09 > Entry
Zebra Swallowtails have arrived!
It seems this year may be a very good year for the zebra swallowtail. These are beautiful butterflies with black and white striped wings, long tails and spots of bright red on the hind wing. If you see one it won’t be easily forgotten. These butterflies are rarely seen because the caterpillars will only eat the leaves of the pawpaw tree. Pawpaw is a native tree found in the under story of the woods around Ohio. With this limited food source the sighting of the zebra swallowtail has been limited, until this spring. Reported sightings are happening weekly. Butterfly House at Cox Arboretum has already had three adults in the house. Two of which were female and have layed 100’s of eggs on the pawpaw tree. The tiny caterpillars can be seen munching away on the leaves of the tree. Not sure why more zebra swallowtails are reported in the area. One possibility may be the amount of rain is allowing for more new growth on the trees, the caterpillars prefer new leaves. The other possibility may be just the natural cycle of the butterfly. It seems butterflies have seasons which produce larger broods than other seasons. These cycles may have many factors that influence the broods of butterflies.
BTW - Be sure to check out the Butterfly Festival at Cox Arboretum MetroPark to see these guys up close. The event is Saturday, July 12: 11am - 7pm and Sunday, July 13: 11am - 5pm at Cox Arboretum MetroPark, 6733 Springboro Pike, Dayton, Oh 45449.
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