The Butterfly Dunes

A photographic journal of a Central Florida wildlife habitat created for butterflies, caterpillars, bees, hummingbirds, and other insects that inhabit this area.

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I am a gardener in Florida who maintains a wildlife habitat to sustain butterflies, bees, hummingbirds, birds, and insects. Host plants are grown to sustain butterfly caterpillars for this area. Flowers are grown to provide nectar for pollinators.
The Giant Swallowtail Life Cycle

The Giant Swallowtail Life Cycle

Papilio cresphontes

“We are like butterflies who flutter for a day and think it is forever.” ― Carl Sagan, “Cosmos”

The Giant Swallowtail is a common site in Florida gardens. They nectar on many types of flowers (Tithonia in this photo).
Their caterpillars use several plants as larval hosts, including Lime Prickly Ash and citrus.
Nectar flower is Globe Amaranth
“Dog and Butterfly”. Giant Swallowtail raised in captivity and released. Picture with Mack taken before release.
Nectar flower Russelia sarmentosa
Male puddling for minerals in wet soil or manure required for mating.
Female searching for a place to lay eggs on Lime Prickly Ash
Caterpillar on Lime Prickly Ash
Larval host plant citrus
Larval host plant citrus
Caterpillar preparing to pupate into a chrysalis
Milkweed is the host for Monarchs, but most butterflies love the blooms!
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