Yesterday (August 15, 2019) I spotted a new garden visitor. This Pipevine Swallowtail (Battus philenor) appears tattered and torn as do many of the butterflies I saw this week. (Life ain’t been no bowl of cherries for some of them.) Like so many others it is attracted to the Lantana camara (Common lantana).
Pipevine Swallowtail (Battus philenor)
The iridescent blue on the top surface of the hindwing makes this butterfly especially lovely.
Pipevine Swallowtail (Battus philenor)
Pipevine Swallowtail (Battus philenor)
Pipevine Swallowtail (Battus philenor)
Here is the Pipevine in action (21 seconds).
The spider mentioned in the title is one of my favorite spiders, Lycoris radiata (Spider Lily). My grandmother grew these near the front foundation of her house and as a young child I was fascinated by the color and form.
Lycoris radiata (Spider Lily)
The tall stems erupted and shot up overnight Wednesday with red tips showing by yesterday the flowers had opened. I took these images early this morning while rambling through the garden. I wonder if they will last as cut flowers?
Lycoris radiata (Spider Lily)
Lycoris radiata (Spider Lily)
pbmGarden 
I have not had those butterflies around for a few years. The caterpillars would eat my entire Dutchman’s Pipe Vine.
When identifying it I read Pipevines could be pests.
The vine? There is a wild native form. Mine are store bought and occasionally come up in other places.
Beautifully captured, Susie. I think I need to add more Lantana to my garden…
Thanks Kris. This one comes back every year here so I imagine it would be happy at your garden.
What a beautiful lily! Perhaps we will be seeing it in your Monday vase?
Thanks Eliza my spider lilies should have multiplied through the years, instead down to this one. It is a treat though. It would make an interesting vase material.
Beautiful butterfly which we never see here in the UK sadly. We are having a good year for butterflies, the first for a long time. We have seen our first ever Small Blue this month. It is the most rich deep blue and purple colours. Thanks for sharing your special butterfly with us.
And thanks for letting me know about your Small Blue. I looked it up and it is quite lovely Malc.
The blue of the butterfly wings in the video is very eye catching.
Thanks for taking time to check it out. I agree that blue is special.
The lycoris is amazing. I tried adding a few which might be hardy in my zone (NE PA) but none of the real spidery flower types made it, they’re all just not hardy enough. I hope a few settle in. Like you said they can be fussy as to how much they like a spot.
Flowers and butterfly: stunners all.
Thank you Andrea!
Great captures of the swallowtail. When I saw the title I was afraid it would be eaten by a spider! We saw lots and lots of those Spider Lilies when we were in Japan.
Something has been preying on many Swallowtails. Not sure how they continue to fly. Would love to visit Japan one day.