Giant Bird Poop

One of the good things (besides the fruit) about fruit trees is that a few of them also act as the host plant for Giant Swallowtails.  See that piece of bird poop?  It’s actually about a week old Giant Swallowtail caterpillar.  This guy also serves as a reminder of my fascination (addiction) with Butterfly gardening.

A week ago I went to Buchanan’s Native Plants to just look around and see if I saw anything that might catch my interest.  As I was walking by the fruit tree section I saw this really gorgeous Giant Swallowtail laying eggs on this plant.  Not needing another fruit tree (already have Improved Meyers Lemon, Republic of Texas Orange, Moro Orange, Black Cherry, Pomegranate, and Apple) I thought I would just pinch off this particular leaf where the Butterfly laid an egg.  I didn’t even notice what kind of fruit tree it was, and last year the Giant Swallowtail laid eggs on our Republic of Texas Orange.  Stupid me then just HAD to turn back around and see what kind of fruit tree this Swallowtail was laying so many eggs on.  It’s was a Ruby Red Grapefruit.  Feeling kinda guilty for attempting to taking that one little leaf, I decided I should go ahead and buy the whole plant.

So now add Ruby Red Grapefruit to the list of fruit trees, and, add 2 Giant Swallowtail caterpillars (I didn’t even notice the other egg).

Giant Swallowtail on Ruby Red