_Papilio turnus_, the Tiger Swallowtail, is the magnificent
yellow-and-black species found in practically every part of the United
States. In the northern portion of its range the male and female
appear very much alike, but in the South there are two distinct types
of females. One female is black-and-yellow like its northern sisters;
the other is black-and-blue, with no yellow at all except a few small
crescents in the outer border of the hind wing. The black female, was
for a long while considered a distinct species and called _Papilio
glaucus_. Later, however, it was discovered that some of the eggs
laid by the yellow _turnus_ produced the black _glaucus_ females, and
that, conversely, the eggs of _glaucus_ often produced the ordinary
yellow-and-black Tiger Swallowtail. The smooth bluish-green eggs are
usually found on the wild cherry leaves; the caterpillar is green, with
enlarged thoracic segments bearing two large eye-spots like those of
Papilio troilus.
_Papilio ajax_, the Zebra Swallowtail, is another striking member
of this magnificent subfamily. The combination of green and black
stripes, the blue and red crescents and the long tails on the hind
wings, distinguish _ajax_ immediately from any of its splendid fellows.
There are at least three slightly different seasonal varieties of this
butterfly, due probably to differences in the temperature to which
the chrysalids are exposed. The butterfly may often be seen hovering
about pawpaw bushes, upon which the eggs are deposited. The mature
caterpillar is pea-green with bands of yellow and black; the chrysalis
is green or brownish, and the last crop of chrysalids does not produce
butterflies until the following Spring. This butterfly ranges from New
England south to the Florida Keys, and west to the foot-hills of the
Rockies.
_Papilio cresphontes_, the Giant Swallowtail, is the largest butterfly
in this country, measuring nearly six inches from tip to tip. The
color is dark brown with bands and blotches of bright yellow, and
there is a red-and-blue spot on the inner margin of the hind wings.
The under side of both wings is yellow, with narrow dark brown bands.
This butterfly is very common in Florida, where the caterpillars--the
natives call them orange-dogs--do a great deal of damage to the orange
and lemon trees. Each female butterfly is known to lay a great number
of eggs, and it has been suggested that the ravages of the orange-dog
may be checked by shooting the butterflies on the wing with miniature
shotguns. In recent years the species has extended its range northward,
and has become quite common in the Middle West; a number of specimens
have been taken in New England, and even in Canada. In the northern
part of its territory there are no citrus trees, but the caterpillar
feeds well enough upon prickly ash and several kinds of poplars.
THE SKIPPERS
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