July 22, 2025

This evening an Eastern Tiger Swallowtail (Papilio glaucus) was out enjoying the nectar of Apple Mint (Mentha suaveolens). Going from this spike of flowers to that spike, then flying off to check out other species of blooms, but coming back to the mint every time.

An Eastern Tiger Swallowtail has a wingspan of 3 to 5.5 inches. A butterfly that doesn’t migrate. Adults live just 6 to 14 days, and during this short time they look for food, find a mate, and the female lays up to 250 eggs. She will lay those eggs on several different species of trees such as Tulip Poplar, Wild Cherry, Sweet-bay, Basswood, Ash, and Wafer Ash, selecting trees that are near nectar sources. She will lay a few eggs here and there over a wide area, not all in one spot.

Lovely to see the butterflies enjoying the flowers of summer.

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