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| Photo: ©Linda S. Jacobson |
By: Linda S. Jacobson
Probably one of the most beautiful butterflies I’ve seen around, and that I’ve been stalking for awhile, out in my half acre, is the Polydamas or Golden Rim. It’s a stunning black with wings accented in bright yellow. The body is also highlighted in red. They enjoy dining on red Fire Bush (see photos,) both the native and hybridized varieties as well as colorful Lantana plants.
These are big butterflies and you will first notice their size and stark flat blackness against your foliage right away. They move pretty fast and it can be difficult to get a photo with the wings flat open as they are constantly in motion. Polydamas are actually considered a Swallowtail even though they lack the tails. Their wingspread is a generous 3-4” making them hard to miss, their range is all of Florida.
If you would like to attract butterflies to your yard, plant lantana, red firebush and red shrimp plants - Hummingbirds like those too, as well as blue butterfly bush and lots of red flowers. See my prior posts for making a container butterfly garden if you’re tight on space.
Do you love Butterflies or just want to know more about them?
In March, CREW Land & Water Trust will be offering:
Dancing Colors & Tigers of the Sky: The Butterflies and Dragonflies of CREW a Strolling Science Seminar with Dr. Clyde Sorenson, Distinguished Alumni Professor of Entomology, NCSU. This Seminar will be held at CREW Bird Rookery Swamp. To learn more about the Seminar and register early, click HERE
To see more images of my South West Florida Butterflies visit my image galleries at
http://www.linda-jacobson.artistwebsites.com
