Shortailed Swallowtail – Papilio brevicauda
Shortailed Swallowtail – Papilio brevicauda
Common Name: Short-tailed Swallowtail
Latin Name: Papilio brevicauda
Appearance:
The Short-tailed Swallowtail has different characteristics throughout its life cycle:
The adult butterfly shows an attractive look with large wings. The top half of the wings is mostly black, with bright yellow or yellowish-orange patterns. The short “tail” on the hindwings is a distinguishing feature that lends to the common name. Green caterpillar with black and yellow patterns. It may feature eye-like markings as a deterrent to possible predators.
Host Plant:
Short-tailed Swallowtail caterpillars feed on the leaves of various plants, particularly those in the parsley family (Apiaceae). Parsley, dill, fennel, and carrot are common host plants.
Territory:
Most of the Short-tailed Swallowtail’s range is in western North America, which includes portions of both the United States and Canada. Its host plants thrive in a range of settings, including as gardens, meadows, and the edges of forests.
Damages caused by Short-tailed Swallowtail :
Caterpillars may devour leaves from host plants, although the damage is often minor and does not constitute a substantial danger to the overall health of the plants. Short-tailed Swallowtails are not regarded serious pests and are frequently praised for their pollination work.
Life History and Habitat:
Life Cycle:
The Short-tailed Swallowtail goes through a full transition, with egg, larval (caterpillar), pupal, and adult stages.
- Egg:Butterfly adults lay their eggs on host plant leaves.
- Larva:The caterpillar grows from an egg and eats the leaves of the mother plant. It moults several times before it’s fully grown.
- Pupa:A fully grown worm turns into a pupa inside a cocoon.
- Adult:When the fully fledged butterfly emerges from the cocoon, the life cycle begins anew.