{"id":2236,"date":"2025-11-11T16:12:06","date_gmt":"2025-11-11T21:12:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/environmentamerica.org\/virginia\/center\/?post_type=article&p=2236"},"modified":"2025-11-11T16:12:06","modified_gmt":"2025-11-11T21:12:06","slug":"say-hello-to-the-virginia-state-insect","status":"publish","type":"article","link":"https:\/\/environmentamerica.org\/virginia\/center\/articles\/say-hello-to-the-virginia-state-insect\/","title":{"rendered":"Say hello to the Virginia state insect"},"featured_media":61823,"template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_yoast_wpseo_meta-robots-noindex":false,"_yoast_wpseo_meta-robots-nofollow":false,"_yoast_wpseo_opengraph-title":"","_yoast_wpseo_opengraph-description":"","_yoast_wpseo_twitter-title":"","_yoast_wpseo_twitter-description":""},"campaign_tax":[128],"display_option":[],"issue_tax":[],"person_tax":[],"region_tax":[],"state":[49],"topic_tax":[121,123],"class_list":["post-2236","article","type-article","status-publish","hentry"],"acf":{"details":{"helper_taxonomies":{"topics":[121,123],"collection":false,"press_type":false,"person_type":false,"resource_type":false,"event_type":false,"campaigns":128,"department":false,"level":false,"states":[49],"act_option":false,"display_option":false,"primary":{"topic":123}},"featured_image":61823,"caption_override":"","excerpt":"Learn more about the Eastern Tiger Swallowtail butterfly and its importance","updated_on":null,"sidebar_action":[],"hide_hero_image":false,"sidebar_action_query_string":""},"helper_people_group":{"title":"Authors","entities":[{"type":"manual","dynamic_person":{"site":null,"people":false},"information":{"name":"Nicholas Witebsky","image":"","role":"Conservation Intern","biography":"","contact":{"twitter":"","facebook":"","email":"","phone":""}}}]},"page_layout":[{"acf_fc_layout":"layout_wysiwyg","_acfe_flexible_toggle":"","component_wysiwyg":{"content":"The Eastern Tiger Swallowtail is native to and abundant across much of the eastern United States. Its name derives from the striking tiger-like pattern across its 3-5 inch wingspan<\/a>, making it one of the most recognizable butterfly species. It was adopted as the Virginia state insect in 1991.\r\n

Basic facts<\/h1>\r\nThis beautiful butterfly<\/a> is abundant throughout deciduous forests<\/a>. Our state insect has a healthy population, and if you live in Virginia, you\u2019ve probably seen it fluttering around your garden, a local creek, or even a city park.\r\n\r\nThe female butterfly will lay two to three sets of eggs from late spring to the end of summer<\/a> on a variety of woody plants and trees, with some of their favorites being wild black cherry and sweet bay magnolia. After hatching, the baby caterpillars will eat their egg shells and then feed on the leaves of their host plant. After spending the winter in their chrysalis, the adult form of the butterfly emerges.","":null}},{"acf_fc_layout":"layout_large_image","_acfe_flexible_toggle":"","component_large_image":{"width":"narrow","image":61825,"caption_override":""}},{"acf_fc_layout":"layout_wysiwyg","_acfe_flexible_toggle":"","component_wysiwyg":{"content":"Both sexes often exit their chrysalis as bright yellow, but the females can be distinguished in two ways. The yellow female will have a large amount of blue on the lower portion of its wings, and sometimes the females will actually emerge with a dark coloring. When this happens, the yellow stripes are replaced by black. This mimics the toxic Pipevine Swallowtail<\/a> and helps defend against predators.","":null}},{"acf_fc_layout":"layout_large_image","_acfe_flexible_toggle":"","component_large_image":{"width":"narrow","image":61826,"caption_override":""}},{"acf_fc_layout":"layout_wysiwyg","_acfe_flexible_toggle":"","component_wysiwyg":{"content":"

Why they matter<\/h1>\r\nButterflies, including the Eastern Tiger Swallowtail, pollinate flowers every day! Butterflies are attracted to the nectar in flowers and drink it with their proboscis<\/a>. In the process of feeding, pollen from the flowers sticks to their bodies and is transported as they move from plant to plant.\r\n\r\nPollination is important for most plants. This includes beautiful wildflowers, over 100 species of crops, and many of the trees in our forests. The truth is plants can\u2019t live without pollinators, and neither can we.","":null}},{"acf_fc_layout":"layout_large_image","_acfe_flexible_toggle":"","component_large_image":{"width":"narrow","image":61824,"caption_override":""}},{"acf_fc_layout":"layout_wysiwyg","_acfe_flexible_toggle":"","component_wysiwyg":{"content":"

Conservation needs<\/h1>\r\nThe great news is that Tiger Swallowtails are not a threatened species, and are abundant throughout their large North American range. But because many other pollinators, including monarch butterflies<\/a> and hundreds of bee species<\/a>, are declining across the country, protecting the pollinators that are thriving is more important than ever.\r\n\r\nLike all wildlife, bees and butterflies are affected by the growing loss of habitat. When natural areas are cleared out for development, the nectar bearing plants that butterflies rely on for sustenance are lost.\r\n\r\nWhile it\u2019s important for state and federal governments to put the right protections in place, there are also measures you can take in your own backyard to help protect these special insects. By planting native plants and flowers, you can create a hospitable environment for butterflies.\r\n\r\nThe Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources<\/a> provides more detailed information on how you can help support butterfly populations in your yard. In addition to providing for these animals, supporting pollinators can often have positive effects on your garden as a whole!","":null}},{"acf_fc_layout":"layout_large_image","_acfe_flexible_toggle":"","component_large_image":{"width":"narrow","image":61827,"caption_override":""}}]},"yoast_head":"\nSay hello to the Virginia state insect<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Learn more about the Eastern Tiger Swallowtail butterfly and its importance\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/environmentamerica.org\/virginia\/center\/articles\/say-hello-to-the-virginia-state-insect\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Say hello to the Virginia state insect\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Learn more about the Eastern Tiger 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