Gulf frits are everywhere here!! I need to snap a pic because yesterday I found 15 chrysalides lined up on one of the pool cage bars, very funny looking.
The polys have just returned in force, within the last week or two. Can see major reduction in pipevine foliage, which was already somewhat limited. Lots of orange barred sulphurs, and monarchs.
Not many ZLWs lately, had a lot in the winter. Should say found a bunch of eggs and released a lot, but never see them around. Have two cats right now though which is nice.
Had four eastern tiger swallowtail cats from a sweetbay, but two died, so now have two. My first time with these guys, hope the remaining two will make it. They certainly seem healthy.
No eastern blacks here either, we think we saw a female a week or so ago, but no eggs. This weather is killing all the EB hosts (exept the rue, of which I wish I had more).
Oh and a ton of GST cats in various stages/sizes right now.
I still do not know the ID of all the passionvines. One day I'll post pics of all of them. The one I am pretty sure is careula, they never use it much either so from your post Mary it confirms that that one is in fact careula. Although when I bring in cuttings of it they happily eat it, just don't (usually) lay eggs there.
Glad to hear they are teeming there too. Love those SBs, have never seen one here (outside of a butterfly house).

Congrats to you two on your cats!
I haven't gotten any gulf frit eggs/cats at all this year. An adult visited earlier in the spring, but she left no eggs. My passionvines are growing like weeds, so I could feed some cats now. No giant swallowtail cats either. The three eggs that were on the wafer ash turned black, and nothing has ever emerged from them.
Other things are going well, though - I've been releasing a few red admirals, question marks, red-spotted purples, and I released my first palamedes swallowtail - a female - yesterday. After I released her, the sky fell in - we got 3.60" of rain, for just under 8" already for the month - I hope she's alright!
Sherry

Congrats on your butterflies, Mary. I have seen very few fritillaries, or really any butterflies this year. The most frequent are Giant Swallowtails, but I see them only once a day or so. I have seen some Monarchs, but still don't have any cats that I have seen. There are both Pipevines and Polydamas around, but not in any numbers.

No Eastern Blacks yet and no Zebra Longwings. Very unusual for this time of year. No skippers yet either. A few Sulphurs but most of my Cassias were killed by the severe freezes.

I guess the freezes really cut back on the numbers of butterflies around here.

I JUST now started seeing Gulf Fritillary eggs here in Southern California. This is really unusual for me. It has been an odd year, to be sure. I am thrilled, however, that the eggs are appearing! I did release ONE adult GF today. :) *sigh* Let's hope the summer brings more butterflies!