What do black swallowtail butterflies eat?
Black swallowtail butterflies drink nectar from many types of plants such as clover, milkweed, thistles, and phlox. While they drink the nectar, they also collect pollen on their bodies.
When they visit the next flower, some of this pollen rubs off onto the flower’s pistil (the female side of the flower that receives pollen) and gives it the chance to make seeds. So butterflies help plants grow by pollinating them.
Black swallowtail butterflies are large, black and yellow butterflies that are known to visit gardens across the United States. In fact, this is one of the most commonly seen butterflies in the country. Although they are most commonly seen near flowers, these butterflies drink nectar from many types of plants such as clover, milkweed, thistles, and phlox.
Black swallowtails also eat native wildflowers when they are caterpillars, but some gardeners have trouble growing enough of these flowers to keep them happy. Instead, you can grow common herbs such as parsley and dill for the caterpillars to munch on. You may also want to consider growing a few plants that you don’t mind sharing with these pretty creatures.
What flowers do black swallowtail butterflies eat?
The black swallowtail, like other butterflies, enjoys flowers that provide them with flat-topped clusters of small blooms, including phlox, gaillardia, zinnias, butterflyweed, and milkweed.
Black swallowtails also enjoy the nectar of herbs such as dill and fennel. These are easy to grow and provide a butterfly garden with color and fragrance. Butterfly bushes add additional fragrance to an outdoor space. Black swallowtails also use these places as a place to lay eggs and to start their next generation.
Asters are a perennial flower that is a wonderful addition to a garden because they attract numerous varieties of butterflies throughout the season. The adult black swallowtail will lay its eggs on the leaves of plants from the carrot family, such as dill, fennel, and parsley. These larvae will then feed upon the plant until ready for metamorphosis into an adult butterfly.
What plants do swallowtail butterflies lay their eggs on?
Dill, fennel, parsley, and rue are the plants on which Swallowtail butterflies lay their eggs.
The larvae of this species feed on these plants, and once hatched, they eat the leaves in an amazing feat of camouflage: as chrysalises (the caterpillar’s pupa stage), they look like bird droppings.
Swallowtail caterpillars grow very fast. They are black with yellow stripes and abundant spines that make them look like bird droppings, so they are well camouflaged among the plant foliage. The spines are hollow and contain glands that secrete a distasteful liquid that repels predators.
How long do black swallowtail butterflies live?
The black swallowtail butterfly has a lifespan of about 6 to 14 days, depending on the environment. The adult butterflies can live longer if they are kept in ideal conditions and if they have a sufficient amount of food.
The black swallowtail butterfly lays eggs on plants and flowers during the summer, such as dill, parsley, and fennel. The baby caterpillars hatch from their eggs within 3 to 5 days. They then feed on the leaves of the plant for about 10 to 14 days, growing larger as they do so. After that time period, they then find a protected spot to change into their chrysalis stage. There they remain for another 10 days until they transform into butterflies.
Black swallowtail butterflies have been a popular source of enjoyment for both expert and amateur lepidopterists for decades. Their life cycle is especially eye-catching because of the color changes that occur in their life cycle and the special set of behaviors that adult butterflies exhibit. For this reason, black swallowtail butterflies are an ideal species for any butterfly enthusiast.
