Last week I had a picture of a dark form of the eastern tiger swallowtail with my column. The obvious question about any species with more than one color form is: What is the advantage? The advantage ...

Every butterfly gardener delights when showy swallowtail butterflies make an appearance. These butterflies are some of the largest in the garden, and their colorful wings and soaring flight patterns ...

We have a large patch of bronze fennel growing out back — this is unfortunate because it can be an aggressive invasive plant and is currently attempting to overrun my blueberry patch, but, on the ...

About 170 butterfly species occur in North Carolina as permanent residents, regular visitors, or rare strays. Some of these are restricted to either the coastal or mountain regions. I'd estimate that ...

On a wooded hillside along the banks of the Allegheny River, Gabrielle Marsden brushed up against an oblong leaf: Asimina triloba. The American pawpaw.The deciduous tree bears North America’s largest ...

There was an absolutely wonderful change in the weather two weeks ago. Gone were the days of oppressive humidity and scorching temperatures. In their place came days with highs near 80 F, lower ...

Every beautiful butterfly was once a caterpillar, and caterpillars have to eat. This may surprise you, but the average ...

LANSING, MI - Michigan Garden Clubs President Carol Brodbeck believes Michigan should recognize the value of butterflies by naming the black swallowtail as its official state butterfly. Naming a state ...

Black swallowtail caterpillars eat plants like fennel, parsley and dill, absorbing toxins for protection from predators. When threatened, the caterpillar uses a forked tongue-like gland called ...

It looks like bird droppings on a leaf, but don't be fooled: it's a caterpillar in disguise. This seemingly innocent creature causes devastation in some agricultural communities, eating young citrus ...