What do Polydamas swallowtail caterpillars eat?
Larvae of the Polydamas swallowtail and those of the other swallowtails belonging to the tribe Troidini feed exclusively on plants in the genus Aristolochia and are commonly referred to as the Aristolochia swallowtails.
How long do Polydamas butterflies live?
| Quick Facts | |
|---|---|
| Distribution/Range | South of Texas, peninsular Florida south to Argentina, northern parts of Kentucky and Missouri |
| Lifespan of adults | Maximum of two weeks |
| Host plants | Pipevines (Aristolochia species) |
| Adult diet | Nectar from flowers primarily of the lantana species, but also seen feeding on honeysuckle and soapweed |
Do birds eat swallowtail caterpillars?
Do birds avoid eating them just because they look like monarchs? The scientists did some feeding experiments to find out. They used red-wing blackbirds and three kinds of butterflies: monarchs, viceroys, and some swallow-tail butterflies. (The blackbirds often eat swallowtails.)
Where do swallowtails lay their eggs?
The black swallowtail has two generations a year. The first group of butterflies emerges between late April and early June after having overwintered in the chrysalis. They mate and then the females lay small white eggs on the underside and tops of plant leaves. The eggs hatch in 3-5 days.
How long does it take for a swallowtail caterpillar to make a chrysalis?
10 to 20 days
Black Swallowtail Life Cycle: Overview and Timings
| Stage | Typical Duration |
|---|---|
| Egg stage | Generally 4 to 10 days, depending on temperature and host plant |
| Caterpillar (larval) stage | 3 to 4 weeks |
| Chrysalis (pupal) stage | 10 to 20 days (except for overwintering pupae) |
| Adult butterfly stage | 6 to 14 days |
Can you raise monarchs and swallowtails together?
At this point, I’m not aware of any issues with raising different caterpillar species in the same cage. However, I would recommend spacing them out by using elevated stem cuttings so they aren’t forced to interact..
How long does it take for a swallowtail caterpillar to turn into a butterfly?
Monarch caterpillars are generally reliable in taking 10-14 days to eclose, or make the transition from chrysalis to butterfly. Swallowtails, in contrast, can take a few weeks to many months to emerge.
Are swallowtail caterpillars harmful to plants?
Plant Damage Like other caterpillars, swallowtail caterpillars eat leaves. The damage by each individual caterpillar is minimal, but if the population of swallowtail butterflies is large, you may find leafy plants dying because the caterpillars stripped them of leaves.
Do swallowtails lay eggs on milkweed?
For example, the Black Swallowtail butterfly lays eggs on the carrot family of plants such as fennel, dill, parsley and carrot. They also use the Rue plant. The Monarch butterfly host plants are the family of milkweed plants. The Gulf Fritillary butterfly will lay eggs on passion vines.