Actually, what I find with butterflies and host plants is that they can change host from year to year--their preferences will change. I think they do this so that the predators don't get used to finding them on the same plant. I try to provide several hosts for the same butterfly. For example, for the Black Swallowtail, I plant both green and bronze fennel, parsley, dill, and rue. I also research their nectar preferences and try to add some of those too. I've been told, but haven't seen this: The A. serpentaria grows in abundance in the Shenandoah National Park in Virginia. The Pipevine Swallowtails can be found crawling around the ground from cluster to cluster since I think they need several of this species to complete their cycle. I am posting the USGS Map Search for Butterflies and Moths. Just select your state, then a butterfly species, you can see its host and nectar preferences, plus habitat. Habitat is very important. Here is a link that might be useful: USGS Butterflies Map Search for Butterflies and Moths

Elizabeth, There is lots of Alder in the park. Alder is found in only a few places in Oklahoma. One of men in the group was able to point out the Alder trees for the rest of us. From my research I've learned that Harvesters feed on the woolly aphids that primarily feed on Alders. There are some other trees, including Beech and Witchhazel. In the spring and early fall, the BFs seem to make their appearances. There is some good information about them on the internet. The adult does not nectar as the proboscis is very short--as you can see in the photo. Several things make the park a really good habitat including the density of the trees, and that nothing was taken out after the ice storm. So there is lots of dead trees and lots of new growth. There is so much poison ivy in the denseness of the woods that people don't go into those areas, they stay on the paths. The area also has a wetland running through it. Until the beaver dam was destroyed by the ices storm, there was a pond in the middle. This summer there is only a stream through center and lots of wildflowers and grasses have erupted where the pond used to be. The beavers are working on a new dam, so next year there will be more water again. There is a natural spring so there is a year round source of water. It is not a large area--only 40 acres, and is surrounded by housing developments. But the area has been allowed to remain totally untouched including chemicals or human interference. The important thing about finding Harvesters is knowing their behavior. They are very easy to overlook. They have specific behaviors that will lead you to them. The males fly in circles about 5 to 8 feet off the ground and light on leaves in the sunshine. They are very non-descript in appearance when you see them flying. You might mistake them for a small Crescent, Checkerspot, or even a Red Banded HS. Only when they light, and upon close inspection, do you see the detail. Once they light, they will stay there until they are disturbed. If you approach them slowly from the opposite side of the sun, you can walk right up to them. I took the picture in this thread with my macro lens, so I was inches from this guy. If another male comes into their territory, they will chase it away, so they find areas that they "stake" claim to. After chasing off the encroaching BF, they will return to their favorite leaf to again perch in the sun and wait for females. I identified 4 areas where males like to light. Each time I return to the park, I see them in those areas. This past weekend, I took DH and DS to see them. We walked right up to one and my husband held the branch (it was windy) so I could take some more photos. The little guy never budged until I offered him my finger for a perch. I should have dipped my finger in salt first! I've read they will perch on a salty finger. According to our state lep statistician, we actually saw 7 Harvesters that day. One lit on one of the guy's hats and stayed for quite a while. I was just having a great time watching everyone's delight at getting to see them, so I wasn't really keeping track of how many. Good hunting to all! Check the NABA map to see if they are in your area. Hope the above info helps you all locate these little guys. They are such a treat to see. Sandy

Those two are on my "possibles" list, thank you! It has so many indications of either one. Really looks more like the Fox, but is small like the Song. Just watched it fly, and it has a woodpecker-type movement. My National Geographic bird book says the Song pumps it's tail in flight. Also, the Fox would be quite out of it's winter range, but that's certainly not unheard of. I'm leaning toward the Song sparrow. Hope I can get a better look at it's head today.

Not surprised about your cam-we've not had one single IR cam work, and even our trusty Non-typical Cuddeback flash cam went beserk, altho I suspect animal tampering. The same day my cam broke, a neighbor's dog went beserk barking at dawn, so he turned it loose. Jeff said he and his two sons saw a "black panther" stick its head around the barn, give the dog one swipe across the face, then walk off into the woods without a backward glance. He said it had a "3 foot tail." I was nervous about our dogs, but he said the cat only attacked in self-defense and didn't kill the dog tho he had to 2 take it 2 the vet for stitches. I kept reminding myself that jaguars don't attack people last night while we were sleeping in our screen tent with front flap open when I kept hearing it (?) bawling in the woods behind our house. It happened 5-6 times over two hours time-each time all the dogs in neighborhood would go beserk. Luckily, none of our dogs are loose. I'm still waiting to get my cam back. Since most of the birds spooked and avoided the new chair blind, even tho it was hidden in the brush, I'm going to try out a new bird blind prototype invention idea this a.m. that should make me "invisible" and draw birds to me at the same time.