The Hillsborough River State Park

It's getting spooky on the trail

Spectacular cloud formation over the Park Thursday

Picture credit to A Ranger on duty.

Passion Flower (Passiflora)

Picture credit to a Ranger

This is a Spicebush Swallowtail Butterfly 🦋 that was spotted in the park.
Picture credit to a ranger

Spicebush Swallowtail butterfly 🦋 (Papilio troilus).

Identification:
This common black swallowtail butterfly is found in eastern North America and is also known as the Green-Clouded butterfly.
Host Plants:
Spicebush Swallowtail caterpillars primarily feed on plants like spicebush (Lindera species), sweet bay, sassafras, and tulip tree.
Caterpillar Appearance:
The caterpillars have large, tan false eyespots with black "pupils" that help them mimic snakes or lizards to deter predators.
Adult Behavior:
As adults, they are known for their ability to thermoregulate their thoraxes, allowing them to fly and feed at lower temperatures compared to other Papilio species.
Habitat:
While primarily found in the eastern US and southern Ontario, they can occasionally stray to other areas, motivated by the availability of water, nectar, and mates.

Stunning sunset July 12th

Beautiful sunset from the other evening
Picture credit to the one of the rangers on duty