The Palamedes is a Majestic Swallowtail Butterfly that relies on Redbay trees
There’s an errant killer on the loose in Florida and other southeastern states. The ambrosia beetle likely arrived on packing materials from Taiwan, Japan or India, their native lands. First discovered in Georgia in 2002, these beetles carry a fungal disease known as Laurel Wilt and it is rapidly spreading.
I had heard about laurel wilt several years ago and didn’t give it much thought since it was far north of my county in Central Florida. Then, in 2009, I started to notice on my own street globs of brown, dying trees within the wooded areas. These are our beloved Redbay (Persea borbonia) trees. I had a small sapling that some bird had planted in my back yard and it seemed to be doing quite well. Then, it died a quick death. I called Forest Services and they came and took the sapling, but there was no conclusive proof that it was laurel wilt that killed my particular tree. However, the Forest Ranger did report that the trees in our wooded areas were victims of this disease that has no cure.
I was pleased to see an early instar of the Palamedes Caterpillar in late August
Not only is this invasive critter killing off our trees, there is also the potential that the Palamedes Swallowtail Butterfly (Papilio palamedes) could become extinct since the Redbay is the only host plant for this butterfly. Two other butterflies can use the Redbay as a host, the Spicebush Swallowtail (P. troilus) and Schaus’ Swallowtail (P. aristodemus), but both of these species have additional plants that can serve as hosts so the loss of the Redbay isn’t as threatening to them.
A later instar of the Palamedes Butterfly taken in 2010 on my now-deceased redbay
I was thrilled recently when a Facebook friend correctly identified a mating pair of butterflies that I identified as Black Swallowtails as Palamedes. Hope springs eternal. I have noticed a few Redbay saplings appearing along the fence line planted by resting birds that, after feasting on the Redbay berries, expel the seeds well “fertilized”. The scent of the leaves when crushed between my fingers is heavenly and proof positive that it is a Redbay.
A mating pair gives hope that the species will be maintained
In checking a young sapling recently, I was rewarded with the siting of an early instar palamedes butterfly caterpillar. He was munching away and will hopefully grow big and strong, build his chrysalis and emerge as a wonderful reproducing adult.
There is some hope based on studies of the recovery of Redbay (pdf):
“While the presence of redbay regeneration and the occasional discovery of live, larger-diameter saplings in the aftermath of a laurel wilt epidemic suggest that redbay will not go extinct, populations of mature redbay are nonetheless being dramatically reduced.”
The loss of Redbay also affects a number of our fauna since the berries are a food source for several different songbirds, wild turkeys, quail and black bears. Deer browse the leaves. It is the only known host of the redbay psyllid (Trioza magnoliae) a type of insect gall that is host to a type of wasp and a type of midge and also serves as a bird food source. You can see where devastation trickles down the food chain.
Galls may not be pretty, but they are home to insects important in the food chain
What the long-term affect of laurel wilt and the loss of mature redbays will have on the Palamedes remains to be seen. I’m just glad that some are still making a home at my place. They certainly are a majestic butterfly and it would be a terrible tragedy to lose them.
To help prevent the spread of the beetle that causes laurel wilt and other equally devastating invasive pests, DON’T MOVE FIREWOOD for camping or transport it for home use. What seem to be simple actions can have terrible affects on our native plants and those that rely on them for their existence.
© 2012, Loret T. Setters. All rights reserved. This article is the property of BeautifulWildlifeGarden.com If you are reading this at another site, please report that to us
About Loret T. Setters
Wow, Loret, I do hope the Palamedes Swallowtail Butterflies can survive & that not too many Redbay trees will be lost! They are stunning butterflies! Yes, PLEASE don’t transport firewood everybody!
Kathy @nativegardener recently posted..Where To Go To See Native Plants in California?
I feel your pain as we will be battling our own invasive pest that will claim my trees in the next 5-10 years…that was the first thing they did here was ban the movement of firewood and had a huge campaign…while the movement did spread the invasive beetle, I think the education about firewood helped slow it now.
Donna@Gardens Eye View recently posted..Gardens Eye Journal-September 2012
Thats outstanding that they actually banned the movement of firewood.
I got some informational brochures and bumper stickers from dontmovefirewood.org to promote that campaign. They also sent frisbees and beetle tatoos as a means to educate the youth. We are using these tools in our outreach this fall so that the people of FL can become educated to this problem. Education certainly is key! (and besides the bug tatoos are really really cool)
Loret recently posted..New Life List Dragonfly
Hi Loret,
What an ugly insect!
You have some great photos here. You may well enjoy this site with equally great photographs of Giant Sequoia trees and two really worthwhile books with unique tree photography. The one is specifially about Trees of South Floridas. You can enjoy imaginative photographs of the giant sequoias on the site and even watch a relaxing video where the owner combined thoughtful shots to match Emerson quotes.
Trees of South FloridaThanks
Tom
Loret, I’m so glad your Palamedes Swallowtails are continuing to lay their eggs in your wildlife garden! I’m hoping against hope that this beautiful butterfly will continue to be able to survive and thrive in the face of this threat.
Carole Sevilla Brown recently posted..Wildlife Gardeners Spin the Cycle of Life
Loret, I too hope for the survival of this beautiful butterfly and the valued Redbay. Your first photo is breathtaking. What a funny little caterpillar. It seems that sometimes over time that insects do find new hosts plants. Hopefully the laurel wilt will fade out somehow.
Carolflowerhill recently posted..Monarch Butterfly Life Cycle: A Metamorphosis ~ Part One ~ The Capable Caterpillar
Thanks Carol, sometimes I get a good shot of the fast flutterers. I just love the caterpillars, especially since they seem to change personalities as they grow. It would be wonderful if the butterflies could adapt to a new larval host….like say WAX MYRTLE! Then I’d have tens of thousands of cats. ha!
I’m holding out hope that the red bay saplings will hold steady and not be affected. The saplings by me can grow anywhere they choose. Even if it is in an inconvenient or crowded spot, they get to live…I will just work around them!
Loret recently posted..New Life List Dragonfly
Sorry to hear about the Redbay. We had a Southern Red Oak die from the ambrosia beetle in 2006 in Decatur, GA.. Thank you for your article. HM
Thanks Harry. It is so sad that the invasive species are getting the upper hand. I just hope that environmentally sound solutions are discovered so we all stop losing our precious trees.