Palamedes Swallowtail Butterfly (Papilio palamedes). This is the signature swallowtail of the great swamps,the Everglades,Great Dismal,Okefenokee,Okeechobee,and Big Cypress. It is one of the largest and most commonly observed in the southeastern US. An undescribed Ophiostoma fungus,likely vectored by an Asian ambrosia beetle,is killing the Red Bay (Persea borbonia) trees on the east coast from Jacksonville,Fl. up into the Carolinas. This wilt or die-off seems to be similar to Dutch Elm disease with a 100% mortality. A 90% loss of the Red Bay tree,the primary larval host,will cause a great reduction in the population of the Palamedes Swallowtail Butterfly. Duval County,Florida |