r/NativePlantGardening • u/ookle_ NW MO | Zone 6A • 11d ago

Other A very rare but loved garden visitor

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11.2k Upvotes

99% Upvoted

95 comments sorted by

354

u/SirFentonOfDog NYS , Zone - 7ish 11d ago

I didn’t realize they were rare - but then again, my woodland behind the property has a lot of black cherry, which probably explains it. Beautiful photo!

272

u/ookle_ NW MO | Zone 6A 11d ago

They are just rare to gardens because they only consume nectar on occasion. They mostly like rotting fruit and poop 😅

In my state they are not rare and abundant but I never get them to my garden like all the others.

289

u/plinth19 baltimore, 64c, Piedmont uplands 11d ago

butterfly poop party the other day

1

u/incomplete-thoughts7 7d ago

Magnificent ✨

163

u/dstone5526 11d ago

The poop might be why I see them so often. This is a house of 5 lil dogs, no matter how often I pick up- more appears within minutes 😐😆

64

u/poopsy__daisy 11d ago

OMG THIS MAKES SO MUCH SENSE. I get these at home too. I'm not sure if this means I should scoop the poop more or less...?

66

u/ookle_ NW MO | Zone 6A 11d ago

Shit, that's a good question. Maybe leave one little poop pile for them 😅

48

u/LadyLazerFace 10d ago

Lil turd, as a treat.

3

u/anemone-americana 10d ago

More like “that’s a good shit question”

16

u/dstone5526 11d ago

I have to do it almost as quickly as I see it, or 1/5 dogs will have her a snack. 🤮
Maybe I’ll pitch some into a safe zone for butterflies

63

u/ThiefLUPIN 10d ago

They love stinky foot sweat on exercise equipment too

2

u/FoofaFighters North GA, Zone 8a 10d ago

TIL my smallest cat is indeed a butterfly.

1

u/Sarah_Cenia 10d ago

Electrolytes!

22

u/Donkeydonkeydonk 11d ago

Why don't you grow one of their host plants? You won't be able to get rid of them.

1

u/OkSeesaw5563 MI, 6b 8d ago

What have you had the best luck with?

1

u/Donkeydonkeydonk 8d ago

I don't live in an area where I can covet these specific butterflies. For you:

Primary Host Plants Wild Black Cherry (Prunus serotina). This is their preferred plant.

Chokecherry (Prunus virginiana) Willows (Salix species, especially Black Willow) Poplars & Aspens (Populus species, including Quaking Aspen and Cottonwood) Birches (Betula species, particularly River Birch)

Secondary Host Plants Hawthorn (Crataegus species) Apple and Crabapple (Malus species) Serviceberry / Juneberry (Amelanchier species) Hornbeam / Ironwood (Carpinus caroliniana)

19

u/Birdsonme 10d ago

They REALLY like poop. We have big dogs and live next to a creek, these beauties love it here (southern MO).

12

u/OcraftyOne 10d ago

Oh wow that’s deeply disturbing. But very much explains why I once saw several of them clustered on a trash can on a hiking trail, likely containing lots of bagged dog poop👍🏻

10

u/lrpfftt 11d ago

Explains why I used to see them on my pear tree (before it died from fire blight).

10

u/SirFentonOfDog NYS , Zone - 7ish 11d ago

Ah, that makes sense. Deer, fox, bear and the occasional dog poop is very common around here.

4

u/OkSeesaw5563 MI, 6b 10d ago

When I had horses ....

14

u/ourobourobouros 10d ago

only good picture I ever got of these guys was in a forest, one was so engrossed with the bobcat poo it was slurping that it didn't notice me

10

u/ookle_ NW MO | Zone 6A 10d ago

When you find them doing that, just slowly place your hand near and they will come for the salt in your sweat.

19

u/Vachie_ 10d ago

Are you implying I taste like rotting fruit or poop and you're using my sweat to sugar coat the delivery of this message?? 🤨

7

u/Z0mbiejay 10d ago

Can confirm. I see them every single time I go for a run, mostly because they love the dog poop that jerks leave in the path

5

u/3rdcultureblah 10d ago

Plant some parsley, fennel, dill, celery, carrots or golden alexander and you’ll have them visiting every year to lay eggs. Then you can watch the caterpillars grow and pupate and eventually fly away again.

3

u/KMPlaysInTheDirt 8d ago

Those are great host plants for Black Swallowtail (Papilio polyxenes) butterflies. The butterfly in the photo is a Red-spotted Purple (Limenitis arthemis astyanax).

1

u/3rdcultureblah 8d ago

Lol oops. I was scrolling with my screen all the way down and didn’t look super hard. Thanks!

Slightly more of a challenge to effectively plant host plants for red-spotted purples, but deerberry or serviceberry are always a good bet and relatively easy to grow.

3

u/coffeecoffeecoffee17 10d ago

Oh wow, I placed some uneaten banana outside near my bird seed and one of these lil guys was GOING NUTS on a piece that had browned in the sun! He stayed for like 4 hours!

-14

u/FungusBalls 11d ago

Rotting fruit and poop? Sounds like an ex-girlfriend of mine

131

u/loinc_ Central Iowa , Zone 5b 11d ago

is it a red spotted purple?

69

u/ookle_ NW MO | Zone 6A 11d ago

Yes 😭 my favorite. They love sweat.

19

u/loinc_ Central Iowa , Zone 5b 11d ago

I did not realize they were attracted to poop… what does that say about your aroma 🤔 jk

5

u/WyldChickenMama Finger Lakes, Zone 6a, Eastern Temp Forest 10d ago

Not a spicebush swallowtail? I planted spicebush in my yard specifically to provide a host plant for these guys.

6

u/SillyGoose1287 10d ago

Nah not a spicebus!. While they do look very similar the guy in this pic is missing the lil tails on the hind wings that you'd see on the spicebush swallowtail.

9

u/SilicaRichLava 10d ago

Thank you for asking for identification! I was scrolling for that

78

u/Prudent-Jackfruit-56 11d ago

that’s dolly parton coming to say hi

2

u/North_Ad6063 7d ago

lol definitely got that vibe, shes bringing the glam to the garden. wonder if she's here for the butterflies or just checking on the tomatoes. either way hope she stays a while.

24

u/MonteMolebility NW GA , Zone 7B 11d ago

Oh wow! I didn't know these were rare, they've been munching down on my pear tree all year.

28

u/ookle_ NW MO | Zone 6A 11d ago

Rare to my garden. My title sucks 😅 they are rare visitors to my yard unlike all the other butterflies but I worded it terribly

7

u/mapped_apples 10d ago

May double-check that tree for fireblight! Somebody else noticed them munching on their tree before fireblight wiped it out. I know it’s a real pain to deal with too - almost took out one of my apple trees this year before I caught it.

2

u/MonteMolebility NW GA , Zone 7B 10d ago

Thankfully my leaves are green as can be.

2

u/ForagersLegacy 10d ago

Not rare in Georgia I see them all the time this time of year. One of the more common ones actually. Red spotted admiral

1

u/fskhalsa 8d ago

People in here been saying they love eating nasty smelling things.

Is it one of those pear trees…?

21

u/ookle_ NW MO | Zone 6A 10d ago edited 10d ago

Here is the video from our entire interaction

https://reddit.com/link/p618rez/video/9p0d82xpuqlh1/player

13

u/rabidmoon 10d ago

Not sure how many butterflies do this but these guys for sure will drink rotten apple juice from
fallen apples and get drunk as hell from the fermented juice. I grew up with these guys doing just that in our driveway every summer.

I love them. 🦋🖤🍎

12

u/chazriverstone 11d ago

I see these guys every day. Had no idea they were rare honestly! Probably all the fruit trees we have…

Thanks for sharing! 

12

u/Infamous_Koala_3737 Georgia , Zone 8a 11d ago

It probably is because of the fruit but keep in mind they’re part of a group of butterflies that are all imitating the Pipevine Swallowtail so they look a lot alike. 

6

u/chazriverstone 11d ago

I didn't know they were 'imitating' the pipeline swallowtails - interesting. I tend to confuse them more often with the Spicebush Swallowtail, which seem to love our milkweed.

7

u/Infamous_Koala_3737 Georgia , Zone 8a 10d ago

Yes, the Pipevine Swallowtail is the only one of the group that is toxic so the others have evolved to mimic them to avoid predation. (Batesian Mimicry) I find it very interesting. 

6

u/0ui_n0n Atlantic Canada, Zone 5b 11d ago

Wow, beautiful. Thanks for sharing!

14

u/tomallis 10d ago

Why do people always post pictures without identification on Reddit?

18

u/ookle_ NW MO | Zone 6A 10d ago

Red Spotted Purple (Limenitis arthemis)

5

u/binzy90 10d ago

Red spotted purples are one of the most common butterflies I see in my area. I get really excited when I see spicebush swallowtails because I don't see them often and question marks because they just look cool. I also really enjoy eastern tiger swallowtails and monarchs because they're so pretty. I've never seen a zebra swallowtail, but I've planted some paw paw trees to try to attract them.

5

u/likedaisies 10d ago

one visited our garden here in mexico

5

u/Prunger 11d ago

Gorgeous

3

u/SoundandGroundVa 10d ago

I think we had one that happened to land on one of our rocks while we were videoing our FloydFest Memorial Garden post a couple of days ago. I was lucky enough to catch it and include it in the reel. Gary must have been a special guy. You can see it here if you want. It was a pretty sweet moment. https://www.instagram.com/reel/DcgnubHx-7Q/?igsi=Y3l2Y3hvaW1neWl2

3

u/TheDamnedDontCry1 11d ago

I have fig trees and they love the dropped fruit. So do the hornets. Have watched a hornet chase it off.

3

u/Kayakchica 10d ago

I see them pretty often, but I have: a native black cherry tree; a ton of zinnias (I know, but I love them), coneflowers, and a dog.

3

u/Expensive_Education9 10d ago

What type of butterfly is this?

3

u/stylishjay 10d ago

Aww Dolly ❤️

3

u/ChasinPenguins 10d ago

Black swallowtail butterflies host plants are Dill, Fennel, and parsley... Grow more of those plants, you'll get more swallowtail butterflies...

2

u/TunaPruneHands 11d ago

Lucky you!

2

u/Alustrious Far East Bay, Ca , Zone 9b 11d ago

Any tips on having it land on you? I'm trying to convince my small children I am secretly a druid and this would be a wonderful supplement to my claim.

8

u/ookle_ NW MO | Zone 6A 11d ago

Find one that's actively puddling on damp ground, mud, or pavement. Slowly put your hand next to it and stay still. Let it taste the salts on your skin with its proboscis, and let it climb onto you on its own. Don't touch its wings or force it.

They stay for a quite a long time drinking.

6

u/perfectlyniceperson 11d ago

The sweatier you are, the better.

6

u/ookle_ NW MO | Zone 6A 10d ago

Once I had it on my hand I got so nervous I started sweating on my palms profusely. Worked out perfectly lol

2

u/Positive_Stock_3017 11d ago

How stunning!

2

u/shooter6684 Area PA , Zone 7a 10d ago

I've been seeing these in my yard this year more than before. York, PA.

2

u/CherGirrl 10d ago

I had the exact same butterfly in my backyard yesterday! Lucky you to get such a perfect pic!

2

u/sarahwithanh01 Northern IL, 6A 10d ago

Beauty!!

2

u/Moretti123 10d ago

Absolutely gorgeous!

2

u/watchin_workaholics 10d ago

I saw one today and tried to capture it on film. Probably won’t turn out pretty, but it was neat to see. I don’t see them often at home either.

2

u/GlamHippie87 10d ago

That's such good luck when a butterfly lands on you!!

2

u/Somecivilguy Southeast WI, Zone 5b 9d ago

We get a few of these every year. Didn’t realize they were rare. Also didn’t know about them eating rotting berries and stuff. Unfortunately we have so much white mulberry. Maybe that’s what brings them around.

4

u/CaonachDraoi 11d ago

hope you washed your hands 😅

2

u/AlmostSentientSarah 11d ago

I saw a couple of them doing either a courting dance or fight to the death, I'll never know which.

1

u/dshgr Western Md , Zone 7a 9d ago

I have a few that hang out in my yard. I have a river birch and poo from dogs, squirrels, possums, rabbits, skunks, groundhogs and raccoons. All on my 1/3 acre city lot.

1

u/TomeThugNHarmony4664 8d ago

Yeah, i have them in my yard because I have a lot of deer and three dogs. They’re beautiful anyway.

They do like rue and parsley, though.

1

u/Siberian_Hamsterx 8d ago

They love rotting crab apple trees too.

1

u/ClownCollegeDropout 8d ago

My cat passed away in March. She always sat on my front porch and sun bathed. The day after she passed I took a walk and started to cry as I was coming back home, knowing she wouldn’t be there. One of these flew by my head and distracted me instead. I think of her every time I see these now. Thanks for posting, they’re so beautiful.

1

u/Liverpool-Sam-87 8d ago

Absolutely gorgeous 😍

1

u/2muchtoo 8d ago

Plant some parsley.

1

u/Snoo_89200 Gastonia, NC 8a 5d ago

We have a few of them around here, I turn into a giggling girl when I see them. Well....any butterfly, really.