Observation date: July 05, 2014
Submitted by: Debbie D
Specimen type: Photograph
Observation notes: These have invaded my friends flower garden. She says, "Don't kill my future butterflies." Her husband says, "Fish bait!" The final decision depends upon identification. Thus my role here. From a distance they appear to be strictly black and white striped. However one can detect a slight shadow of greenish-yellow within the striped pattern, thus the Swallowtail assumption. However, the face seems to negate this assumption when compared to other images of Swallowtails. The best way to describe the face is to imagination a ladybug perched on the eating end of the caterpillar. So, do we continue to let these destroy the plants for the sake of future butterflies or do we start rigging up the rods and reels?
Status: Resident
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: July 18, 2014
Coordinator notes: I finally found out what moth this is after some searching--Spanish Moth
Xanthopastis regnatrix. This is the first record I see of this species for Louisiana in the BAMONA database. SAT
