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What is an orange dog?

By Chelsie Vandaveer

February 12, 2003

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Suggested Reading—>Click here.

Assorted Killer Savings Garden Links—>Click here.

Killer Picks: Wollemi Pine, greatest living fossils discovered in the 20th century—>Click here.

3-in-1 Butterfly Bush, Blue Butterfly Delphinium, Butterfly Bush Kaleidoscope—>Click here.

Sungold, Black Knight Butterfly Bush, Butterfly & Hummingbird Garden—>Click here.

The giant swallowtail (Papilio cresphontes Cramer) is native to tropical and subtropical North and South America, and frequently visits the temperate zones. During warm weather, the butterfly will migrate as far north as Quebec; other than a few odd sightings, they appear to follow the river systems. Those that stray too far north leave their next generation stranded; the eggs and larvae will not have enough time to develop into adults and head south before killed by winter.

Giant Swallowtail on Purple Coneflower, Illinois
Photographic Print Daybreak Imagery Buy Photographic Print at AllPosters.com

The host plants (those plants the caterpillars feed on) of giant swallowtails are the Rutaceae, the citrus family. Prior to the introduction of Citrus during the mid-1500s by the Spanish, the caterpillars fed on native rutaceous species—wild lime (Zanthoxylum fagara (L.) Sargent), Hercules-club (Zanthoxylum americana Miller), and West Indian satinwood (Zanthoxylum flavum Vahl). In temperate zones, their primary host is the hop tree (Ptelea trifoliata Linnaeus).

Plants in the Rutaceae defend themselves from herbivores with chemicals--acrid oils, terpenes, and furanocoumarins--and often thorns. The caterpillars of giant swallowtails are feasting on a chemical soup designed to discourage or kill. It is known that the caterpillars excrete the furanocoumarins, but other mechanisms of using, converting, or destroying rutaceous chemicals are yet unknown.

Giant Swallowtail Butterfly, Caterpillar Photographic Print David M. Dennis
Buy Photographic Print at AllPosters.com

According to the Department of Entomology and Nematology, University of Florida, by the fourth and fifth instars (growth stages), the caterpillars can actively defend themselves. Hidden behind the head is a Y-shaped structure, the osmeterium, which exserts from the body to slap at predators like ants and spiders. The osmeterium exudes a foul smelling liquid containing forty percent isobutyric acid and sixty percent 2-methyl butyric acid. The mixture smells like rancid butter and is fatal to many insects.

Giant swallowtail caterpillars, called orange dogs, have a primary defense from predators. The caterpillars are camouflaged, not to look like the plant they are eating, but to appear as something a predator would avoid—a slimy bird dropping.

Butterflies and Moths of North America has posted two photographs of Papilio cresphontes, larva and adult photographed by Paul A. Opler. To view his photographs, click on the link:

http://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/species?l=1366

Bob Wilson has a photograph of the orange dog with the osmeterium extended. To view his photograph, either click on the link "Caterpillar Account" on the above page or go directly by this link:

http://www.npwrc.usgs.gov/resource/2000/cateast/papicres.htm

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Unique Professionally Designed Gardens

Springhill Nursery®

Spring Hill Nursery has unique gardens professionally designed by experts to take the guesswork out of gardening. Whether you are looking for a three season garden, foundation garden, or a garden to attract hummingbirds and butterflies, Spring Hill Nursery has created a step-by-step design just for you. Click here - $20 off your first order at Spring Hill Nursery!

3-in-1 Butterfly Bush

Spring Hill Nursery®

Three buddleia in one container! A unique and colorful butterfly bush formed of three varieties, 3-in-1 grows like one plant with 3 distinct bloom colors; warm lavender, deep magenta and pure white. The mild fragrance and vivid colors of the 10" long panicles bring in scores of butterflies and hummingbirds from midsummer to first frost.

Grows 6-9' with a 6-10' spread. Shipped in 4" pots. Deer tend to avoid.

Buddleia davidii

Zone 4 to 9

3-in-1 Butterfly Bush Ships In The Spring Click here - Save $20 on $50 order

Garden Perennials - Save $20 on $50 order

Blue Butterfly Delphinium

Spring Hill Nursery®

The dazzling deep blue blooms of this wonderful Blue Butterfly Delphinium lure butterflies all summer long. Rare dwarf variety begins flowering early in summer and reblooms through the season.

Grows 12-14" high, excellent for edging and front of a border. Space 6" apart.

#1 field-grown plant. Deer tend to avoid.

Delphinium 'Blue Butterfly' Zone 4 to 8

Blue Butterfly Delphinium Ships In Both Spring And Fall Click here - Save $20 on $50 order

Unique Characteristics: Flower color is not found in many perennials. Ideal as an edging planted enmasse. Extremely long flowering. True dwarf delphinium that can be used in the front part of the border. Can be used with a number of colors to create dazzling floral displays all summer long.

Garden Perennials - Save $20 on $50 order

Butterfly Bush Kaleidoscope

Spring Hill Nursery®

The Kaleidoscope Butterfly Bush is a gorgeous breakthrough—the first Buddleia to offer two colors on one panicle! Lavender and butterscotch yellow blooms blend together on fluffy, fragrant panicles up to 10" long. Butterflies can not resist the hundreds of bright florets. The eye-popping display lasts from midsummer to fall.

Grows 6-8' tall in full sun to partial shade.

Shipped in 4" pots. Deer tend to avoid.

Buddleia 'Bicolor' Zone 5 to 9.

Butterfly Bush Kaleidoscope Ships In The Spring Save $20 on $50 order

Unique Characteristics: The first Buddleia to offer different colors on one panicle. Fragrant lavender, butterscotch yellow and orange blooms blended together to form a striking color display. Makes a wonderful backdrop for lower growing perennials and shrubs. The butterflies obviously love this buddleia too!

Additional Information: In northern climates Buddleias behave like herbaceous perennials with the top growth dying back in winter. Prune back to new growth in the spring. In southern climates, prune to shape.

Garden Perennials - Save $20 on $50 order

Sungold Butterfly Bush

Spring Hill Nursery®

Bright, fragrant flowers up to 10" long, in a unique butterscotch color.

Large, fragrant flower clusters emit a delicate scent that attracts butterflies and hummingbirds to your garden. Sungold Butterfly Bush blooms from summer to fall, growing 6-12' tall with a 12-15' spread. For best results, cut back 6-8" each spring in cold climates.

6-10' tall with similar spread.

Shipped in 4" pot. Deer tend to avoid.

Buddleia davidii Zone 5 to 9.

Sungold Butterfly Bush Ships In The Spring Click here - Save $20 on $50 order

Unique Characteristics: Unique orange-yellow color. Long blooming season, abundant flowers. Attractive fragrant flower spikes when little garden color is available. Resists atmospheric pollution. Easy to grow, requires little maintenance.

Additional Information: Flowers are produced on new wood, so it's best to prune back almost to ground in early spring before it begins to grow. If pruned in this way, plant will grow to about 8' x 8' during the season.

Garden Perennials - Save $20 on $50 order

Black Knight Butterfly Bush

Spring Hill Nursery®

Graceful trusses smothered with dark purple flowers attract flocks of butterflies.

The Black Knight Butterfly Bush has a long blooming season, from mid-summer into autumn.

6-10' tall with similar spread.

Shipped in 4" pot. Deer tend to avoid.

Buddleia davidii 'Black Knight' Zone 4 to 9.

Black Knight Butterfly Bush Ships In Both Spring And Fall Click here - Save $20 on $50 order

Unique Characteristics: Deepest of the purple colors, outstanding color, long blooming season, abundant flowers. Attractive fragrant flower spikes that attract butterflies in droves. Resists atmospheric pollution.

Additional Information: Flowers are produced on new wood, so it's best to prune back almost to ground in early spring before it begins to grow.

Garden Perennials - Save $20 on $50 order

Garden For Butterflies & Hummingbirds

Spring Hill Nursery®

Save 27% by purchasing six varieties of butterfly- and hummingbird-attracting plants.

Butterfly Hummingbird Garden includes:

Black Knight Butterfly Bush (1), Graceful trusses smothered with dark purple flowers attract flocks of butterflies.
Red Penstemon (3), Served as beacons to hummingbirds, these crimson tubular blossoms almost glow as they bloom.

White Dragonflower (3), Narrow leaves and graceful stems set off unusual snapdragon-like blooms late summer to fall.
Keys of Heaven (3), Bushy plant bear clusters of sweet-scented scarlet blooms.
Mixed Monarda (3), A delightful mixture of white, pink, purple and red flower heads adorn gardens and borders for weeks.
Wild Romance Aster (3), Spring Hill Exclusive! Butterflies love its vivid red, semi-double flowers and yellow centers.

Butterflies:

Black Swallowtail
Clouded Sulfer
Pearl Crescent
Painted Lady
Buckeye
Checkered Skipper
Bronze Copper
Common Blue
Red Admiral
Viceroy

Hummingbirds:

Ruby-throated
Black-chinned
Rufous
Broad-tailed

Garden For Butterflies & Hummingbirds Ships In The Spring Click here - Save $20 on $50 order

Unique professionally designed gardens - Save $20 on $50 order

Wollemi Pine

National Geographic®

Exclusively from National Geographic, this survivor from the age of the dinosaurs is one of the greatest living fossils discovered in the 20th century. The Wollemi pine is one of the world's oldest and rarest tree species, belonging to a 200-million-year-old plant family thought to have been extinct for more than two million years.

Previously known only from fossil records, it was presumed extinct until a single tree was found in the Wollemi National Park, Australia, in 1994. Subsequent research discovered 100 adult trees that have survived in a single canyon in this wild and rugged area. Click here

You can assist in the conservation effort and enjoy the unique opportunity to ensure the continued survival of this rare species by giving the tree as a gift or growing your own. Suitable for indoor container gardening or as a landscape tree in certain areas of the U.S.

Comes with a care manual with the full story about the discovery and fascinating history of the Wollemi pine. Comes in a copper-colored container and will be approximately 10''H when shipped. A portion of the proceeds from the sale of these plants will fund ongoing conservation research. Click here.

National Geographic Magazine

National Geographic®

You are invited to roam the world in the pages of National Geographic magazine. Explore the diversity of our planet's lands and inhabitants in compelling stories covering topics such as animals, nature, science, technology, culture, history, travel, adventure, exploration, and geography. The monthly National Geographic magazine is your key benefit of membership.

Additional benefits include:

As many as five wall map supplements throughout the year in issues of the magazine
A personalized Membership Certificate
Special discounts on selected products
The opportunity to examine special Society products free in your home before deciding to purchase

The privilege of traveling the world with the Society's educational travel tour programs
The satisfaction of supporting important research, conservation, education, and exploration projects

Join the Society and bring the adventure of National Geographic into your home! Click here.