Hobbies And Interests
Life Cycle
Most male swallowtails patrol the habitat ranges looking for receptive females with which to mate. Some species of swallowtail (anise, black, indra and old world swallowtails) will perch instead of patrol for females. The males of these species will find a ridge or hilltop to perch and wait for the females to come to them. Swallowtail females lay single or multiple eggs on the underside of host plant leaves. Some swallowtails, like the giant swallowtail, will lay eggs on twigs or leaves of host plants. Swallowtail caterpillars will pupate, then overwinter as pupae or chrysalids, to emerge as adult caterpillars the following spring. Some species of swallowtails will stay in the pupa stage for longer than one winter in order to survive drought conditions.
Common Swallowtail Species
Some of the more common swallowtail butterfly species found in North America would be the tiger swallowtail (including eastern and western tiger swallowtails), the zebra swallowtail, pipevine swallowtail, black swallowtail, anise swallowtail, indra swallowtail, pale swallowtail, two-tailed swallowtail, spicebush swallowtail and the giant swallowtail. Swallowtails are brightly colored favorites of many butterfly enthusiasts.
Habitats
Swallowtails can be found in deciduous forests, open fields, forest edges, marshes, parks, suburbs, valleys, creek banks and roadsides. Some species of swallowtail prefer open woods and woodland edges or other open areas as opposed to crowded, populated areas. Swallowtails, like all other butterflies, need habitats that provide them with food, shelter, water and a place to lay eggs.
Larval Food
Host plants that provide food for several species of swallowtail larvae include plants in the parsley (Apiaceae) family (carrot, dill, parsley, celery, Queen Anne's lace), certain trees (wild cherry, birch, willow, ash, basswood, mountain ash, pawpaw, magnolia, tulip tree) Young caterpillars will eat leaves or flowers of nectar plants. Some swallowtail caterpillars resemble bird droppings, which is a natural defense mechanism against predators.
Adult Food
Swallowtail butterflies feed on a variety of adult nectar sources, depending upon the specific species. Plants that provide nectar for several swallowtail species include a variety of berries, bushes, flowers and trees. Such nectar sources can include blueberry, blackberry, milkweed, lilac, wild cherry, red clover, alfalfa, dill, Queen Anne's lace, thistle, redbud, verbena, dogbane, zinnia and other shrubs, trees, perennials, herbs, annuals and wildflowers.