Simple Facts About Moths & Butterflies

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11.The Pipevine Swallowtail (Battus philenor), larvae feed on poisonous Aristolochia pipevines and the adult butterflies are distasteful to predators. It is said that the dark female of the Tiger Swallowtail, minics the Pipevine Swallowtail throughout it's range and thereby is avoided by birds who confuse it with the philenor type.

12. Another minic of the Pipevine, is the Spicebush Swallowtail, (Papilio troilus), which is found in flower-covered fields. The females seek the spicebush (Benzoin), to lay their eggs. They also seek the prickly ash, (Xanthoxylum), Sassafras, and Sweet Bay (Magnolia glauca), in shady wooded areas.
The Florida subspecies of this swallowtail, named ilioneus, is a larger and brighter colored insect than those found in northern populations.

13. Another minic, the Palamedes Swallowtail (Papilio palamedes), is found in swampy forest areas and along stream banks. It's green caterpillars are often found on the spicebush as well.

14. Eastern Black Swallowtail (Papilio polyxenes), is found in open fields and along roadsides, moving from thistle to thistle, in a bobing fashion. The larvae is richly striped with bands of black and yellow or orange dots on these stripes. The caterpillars can often be found on parsley and carrot plants, in the garden. They also like Ruta graveolens in the herb family.

15. One of the most beautiful butterflies is the long-tailed, black and white Zebra Swallowtail (Graphium marcellus). It is found along rivers and trails.The pea-green caterpillar has narrow black and yellow crossbands which help it to hide easily on it's sole host plant, the Pawpaw tree, (genus Asimina).