Swallowtail Butterflies: A Guide to Attracting Them to Your Garden
Swallowtail butterflies are some of the most beautiful and popular butterflies in the world. They are known for their distinctive “tails” and their bright colors. If you want to attract more swallowtail butterflies to your garden, there are a few things you need to know.
Host Plants
The first thing you need to do is choose the right host plants for swallowtails. These are the plants that swallowtail caterpillars eat. Different types of swallowtails have different host plants, so it’s important to do some research to find out which ones are right for the swallowtails in your area.
Some common host plants for swallowtails include:
- Black swallowtail: parsley, fennel, dill, Queen Anne’s lace, common rue, golden Alexander
- Tiger swallowtail: ash, tulip tree, black cherry, sweetbay, magnolia, American basswood
- Giant swallowtail: wild lime, all citrus trees, northern prickly ash, common rue, hoptree, Hercules club
Nectar
In addition to host plants, you also need to provide nectar for adult swallowtails. Nectar is a sweet liquid that butterflies drink for energy. Some common nectar plants for swallowtails include:
- Milkweed
- Wild bergamot
- Butterfly weed
- Purple coneflower
- Joe Pye weed
Other Tips
Here are a few other tips for attracting swallowtail butterflies to your garden:
- Plant a variety of host plants and nectar plants. This will give swallowtails a choice of food and make your garden more attractive to them.
- Plant your host plants in sunny locations. Swallowtails prefer to lay their eggs in sunny spots.
- Water your plants regularly. Swallowtails need water to survive.
- Avoid using pesticides. Pesticides can kill swallowtails and their caterpillars.
Black Swallowtail Butterflies
Black swallowtails are one of the most common types of swallowtails in North America. They are known for their velvety black wings with yellow and blue bands and spots. Black swallowtails lay their eggs on parsley plants.
Tiger Swallowtail Butterflies
Tiger swallowtails are another common type of swallowtail in North America. They are known for their yellowish wings with black stripes. Tiger swallowtails lay their eggs on a variety of trees, including ash, tulip tree, and black cherry.
Giant Swallowtail Butterflies
Giant swallowtails are the largest species of swallowtail in North America. They can be up to 6 inches across. Giant swallowtails are known for their black wings with light yellow spotted stripes on top and bright yellow wings underneath. Giant swallowtails lay their eggs on a variety of plants, including wild lime, citrus trees, and northern prickly ash.
Conclusion
By following these tips, you can attract more swallowtail butterflies to your garden and enjoy their beauty for years to come.
