Congratulations!! Any pics?

Great, Mary! Is there anything more beautiful than a newly emerged, male pipevine swallowtail?

Sherry

No, no pics yet of these little guys. They fly so fast and flit about so quickly it is difficult to get photos. Year before last I had them all summer and was able to get a few of them feeding on potted Pentas on the deck but I think I got lucky because there were so many of them. This year I've only seen the two males and the one female I released. I didn't even see the mama pipevine that left the eggs. The male is so pretty, with that bright blue on his lower back. It is easy to recognize the male. What I have trouble with is the female, as she looks much like the black swallowtail to me. The females move fast and unless I catch her while still, I can't tell the difference. I knew I had a female this morning because the pipevines are in their own enclosure.

Mary

Hi Sherry, no I don't think there is anything prettier. That lovely bright blue just shimmers in the sunlight. Thanks to you, I can now recognize the males but still have a terrible time with the females!

Mary

If you have so many in the enclosure I think it probable that you will have some around for a while, Mary. In my experience they tend to hang around the vines, just like the Polydamas.

Congratulations on your success.

Thought I'd share this photo with the newer forum members. Some will remember this from, I think, 2012, but it is an image some may never see in their own garden. I stumbled upon them by accident while working in the garden. I lightened the image a bit because papa (upside down) was in shade and mama was in bright sunlight. You can see how much larger her abdomen is, no doubt due, in part, to the eggs she's carrying. Their black color is darker than it appears here. They were on 'Walker's Low' Nepeta faassenii, which grows only about 10 inches high. Please cover the children's eyes! ... Mary

Pipevine Swallowtails mating