Observation date: August 13, 2019
Date notes: This sighting was made through-out the life cycle of this butterfly, from 13Aug2019 to 06May2020. We would like to thank Mike Fisher for his interest in helping us. I am submitting this record for Lorie Kazcmarek. Although I, too, observed the species, my job is to take photos. Janeal Thompson
Submitted by: Janeal W. Thompson
Specimen type: Photograph
Observation notes: This observation was made through-out the life cycle of the Eastern Giant Swallowtail in Prowers County Colorado which we documented. An Eastern Giant Swallowtail visited the gardens on 13Aug2019 and the owner, Lorie K. found eggs that day on hop trees she had planted in hopes of having these swallowtails which had visited the year before return to the garden. She had also planted rue. The the larvae was photographed in different instar stages the 3 surviving caterpillars were placed in a barrel to protect them from parasitizing wasps. Chrysalis were formed and were overwintered in the barrel. Unfortunately, the day of emergence, we were only able to get a photo of an emerged female, on 02May2020. Another female emerged on 06May2020. The third chrysalis was not viable. We would like to thank Mike Fisher for his expert help in this project. After photographing, the butterflies were released to the wilds. The owner of the gardens, Lorie K., has rue and hop trees growing and perhaps we can document another successful rearing of this beautiful and unusual visitor to southeastern Colorado.
Status: Migrant
Verified by: mikefisher
Verified date: May 30, 2020
Coordinator notes: Looks good Janeal. I think BAMONA has a spotlight gallery for exceptional things like this but I don't know how it works to get it submitted. Do you have ability to contact Bamona to ask questions? You might send and inquiry and tell them I suggested they put the life cycle in their special gallery (you have other photos of the caterpillar....larger near full grown?). Didn't the GF or the PVST life cycles get so posted? Mike
