Found it on my orange tree. most likely a giant swallow tail. I’ve seen them around. two holes in it. Wasps. Making their escape after a decent and deadly meal.

Who’s this guy, southwest VA

I have recently went to a (commercial) butterfly greenhouse. First thing that greeted me was a reception room with shelves full of saleable butterflies under glass and souvenirs.

Second thing was the door to the greenhouse itself. Like, between butterflies and freedom there is a door with a net and reception room open to the outside. Which raises danger of having infected or invasive species leave.

Third thing , It didn’t think about it at the time but the greenhouse is overpopulated. There were different species all together and the greenhouse is pretty small.

Fourth thing, I didn’t get any instructions and warnings. I do know that you can’t touch wings, be rough and walk carelessly but that was more of my own common sense than anything. Some other people received basic instructions. Idk if I just looked too confident to have them.

Fifth thing, workers didn’t tell where they get their species; no transparency. Also, there were no information about harm humans and climate change causes to butterflies and anything about conservation, protection and repopulation programs greenhouse takes part in. Which is an important thing for a places like that?

Sixth thing, there was no visitor limit for this small greenhouse.

Seventh thing, workers were leaving the greenhouse time to time and therefore visitors unattended. I saw a 4 y/o child getting increasingly stressed out and loud because she didn’t have butterflies land on her. I think, she tried to grab one, because I heard other visitors audibly show their disapproval.

Eighth thing, I think the workers were rough with butterflies? I saw one grab fresh out of cocoon aquarium butterfly and took it out somewhere (probably to be put under glass or taken apart for souvenirs?). Also, another one took away a withering old butterfly and on a child’s question about it’s fate said it was a secret. The way she said it makes me feel like they just kill and throw them away. If they had different containment they would have told that?

Ninth thing, there were wild parrots. Well fed but still birds? I don’t know if they stress butterflies? I would think prey and predator species shouldn’t mix together.

Tenth thing, there are enough damaged and withered butterflies around.

Eleventh thing, they sell stick bugs in a small aquariums which adds to a “shop” atmosphere.

Am I overthinking? Can I do something?

- Scientific name: Calycopis cecrops

- Description: One of the prettiest of our small hairstreaks, the Red-banded hairstreak is dark gray-black or brownish black above with patches of deep, iridescent blue that flash in flight. The blue on the male is usually restricted to the hindwings near the tails; that of the female is more extensive and may extend onto the forewings. Beneath, the black-and-white line that crosses the gray-brown is widely bordered inwardly with red or red-orange. That broad band extends across both the hindwing and the forewing and gives the species its common name.

- Size: .75 - 1 inch.

- Range: The Red-banded hairstreak ranges across the southeastern corner of the U.S., feom Long Island to Missouri and Kansas and southward to Florida and Texas.

- Females lay their eggs on the underside of dead leaves near the base of approriate food plants, where the eggs and newly emerged larvae are hidden from view. The caterpillars later crawl up to feed on flowers and leaves. Sumacs, wax myrtle. Crotons, and oaks have all been listed as larval food plants, and Giffird and Opler successfully raised red-banded hairstreaks on borh sumac and wax myrtle.

- The authors, however, describe the caterpillar as "dull blackish brown" in all its instars, while Heitzman describe it as "yellowish green with a bluish green dorsal line and a heavy covering of brownish hairs. "

- It is possible that the larvae feed high in the trees out of sight and small larvae among the detritus on the ground can be almost impossible to see.

- Male butterflies perch on the leaves of trees and shrubs, waiting for passing females. They seem to be most active in late afternoon. Both sexes visit a variety of flowers for nectar and sip moisture from damp earth.

- There are apparently at least three broods, producing fresh adults from March into November.

- The larvae are slow to develop, and broods overlap through the year. Some larve may also hibernate before finishing their develpment.

Notice this caterpillar Thursday

Sadly this little guy won't make it, I caught him trying to emerge and his abdomen was wiggling and struggling, and I attempted to help by misting the chrysalis, and after so long I finally decided to try helping by carefully opening the stuck shell for him to push out of it himself but by then, his wings were ripped/deformed :( I'm not sure if there's anything I could have done or not done to save him, I feel so bad

Is this normal?

I think i missed it but a new swallowtail looks to be out in the world now.

I bought these framed butterflies second hand with no information and I can’t seem to find out what they are through google. Can anyone help identify them?

BC Canada

Thought you guys might want to see these guys. They sure do love this bush! I’m super glad to see the monarchs though.