How to Attract Black Swallowtail Butterflies: Expert Tips and Tricks

Attracting black swallowtail butterflies to your garden can be a delightful experience, as these beautiful creatures add life and color to any outdoor space.

To successfully bring these butterflies to your garden, it’s essential to provide them with the right environment and resources.

One of the key factors in creating a butterfly-friendly garden is including both adult nectar plants and caterpillar host plants.

By planting a variety of these plants, you can not only attract black swallowtails but also support their life cycle, giving them a place to lay their eggs and feed their young.

A few common vegetables, such as parsley and dill, can serve as caterpillar host plants; consider planting extra to ensure there’s enough for both you and the butterflies.

Additionally, make sure your garden is situated in a sunny and sheltered area, as butterflies need sun to warm their bodies for flight.

Providing a comfortable area that is shielded from strong winds can help the butterflies feel more at home in your garden, ultimately drawing more black swallowtails to your outdoor space.

Understanding Black Swallowtail Butterflies

Life Cycle

Black swallowtail butterflies (Papilio polyxenes) belong to the swallowtail species and have an interesting life cycle, consisting of four stages:

1. Egg
2. Caterpillar (or larvae)
3. Chrysalis (or pupa)
4. Adult butterfly

These stages ensure their delicate beauty is preserved over time.

Habitat and Range

Black swallowtails can be found in a variety of habitats, such as:

• Fields
• Meadows
• Wetlands
• Prairies
• Sunny backyards

These butterflies are commonly found throughout North America, with the eastern black swallowtail being a widespread subspecies.

Physical Features

Key physical features of the black swallowtail butterfly include:

• Wingspan: Females tend to be larger than males, with a wingspan ranging from 3¼ to 4¼ inches.
• Coloration: Black with yellow, blue, orange, and red accents on their wings. Males display more noticeable yellow, while blues are more pronounced in females.
• Caterpillar: The black swallowtail caterpillar transforms throughout its development, eventually displaying segments with bands of bright colors.

The black swallowtail’s physical features add to its distinctive appearance among other swallowtail species.

Comparing the black swallowtail to the similar pipevine swallowtail, both species share dark forewings, but the black swallowtail has more diverse coloring on its hindwings.

How to Attract Black Swallowtail Butterflies: Creating a Butterfly-Friendly Garden

Ideal Location

To attract black swallowtail butterflies, choose a garden site that offers:

• Full sun: Butterflies need sun to warm their bodies for flight. Most plants they are attracted to also need full sun¹.
• Shelter: A location sheltered from harsh winds provides a safe environment for butterflies.

Nectar Plants

Adult black swallowtails feed on nectar from a variety of flowers, so a diverse selection of nectar plants is essential². Some popular choices include:

• Milkweed
• Butterfly bush
• Coneflower
• Zinnia

Host Plants

Host plants provide a place for black swallowtails to lay eggs and caterpillars to feed on. For example:

• Parsley
• Dill
• Fennel

Adding an herb garden can provide a perfect habitat for these caterpillars.

Water Sources and Minerals

Butterflies also need water and minerals to survive. Provide:

• Flat stones: For basking and absorbing minerals.
• Wet sand: A small dish of wet sand is an easy way to create a butterfly puddling spot⁴.

Safe Environment

Creating a safe environment means minimizing threats to butterflies:

• Avoid insecticides: Use targeted or organic pest control methods instead of broad-spectrum pesticides⁵.
• Native plants: Use native plants suited to your region’s USDA Plant Hardiness Zone to support the local butterfly population.

By following these guidelines, your garden can be an inviting and supportive habitat for black swallowtail butterflies.

Growing Specific Plants for Black Swallowtails

Parsley

Parsley is a popular host plant for black swallowtail caterpillars. Grow Petroselinum crispum in your garden to attract these butterflies.

Parsley is easy to grow, germinates within a few weeks, and can tolerate light frost.

Fennel

Fennel is another host plant that attracts black swallowtails. It provides a food source for the caterpillars and its yellow flowers are attractive to adult butterflies.

To grow fennel, plant seeds after the last frost date, give it plenty of sunlight, and water it regularly.

Dill

Dill is a common herb that can also attract black swallowtails. The caterpillars love to feed on the leaves while the adult butterflies are attracted to its flowers.

Grow dill by planting seeds in well-draining soil and providing plenty of sunlight.

Queen Anne’s Lace

Queen Anne’s Lace is a wildflower that attracts black swallowtail females to lay their eggs.

This plant hosts the caterpillars and provides a plentiful food source. Plant seeds in early spring and provide good sunlight for optimal growth.

Carrots

Carrots, similar to Queen Anne’s Lace, attract female black swallowtails to lay eggs. The caterpillars can feed on the foliage of the growing carrot plants.

Rue

Rue is an attractive host plant for both adult butterflies and caterpillars.

Although it has a bitter taste, the caterpillars feed on the leaves, and adult butterflies are attracted to the yellow flowers.

Plant rue in well-draining soil, water moderately, and provide ample sunlight.

Zinnias

Zinnias aren’t host plants for black swallowtails, but their flowers attract adult butterflies.

These colorful flowers provide nectar, which is a food source for the butterflies. Plant zinnias in a sunny location with well-draining soil for best results.

Herbs

Many herbs are great for attracting black swallowtail butterflies. Some examples include:

• Celery
• Caraway
• Verbena
• Lantana
• Bee balm
• Coneflowers

Plant these herbs along with the other host plants mentioned above to create a diverse and welcoming habitat for black swallowtails in your garden.

Attracting and Protecting Black Swallowtail Caterpillars

Identifying Caterpillar Stages

Black Swallowtail caterpillars go through several stages, known as instars, in their transformation. As they progress, their appearance changes:

• 1st instar: Small, black, and spiny
• 2nd to 4th instars: Green with black bands and yellow spots
• 5th (final) instar: Bright green with yellow and blue markings

Become familiar with these stages to better identify Black Swallowtail caterpillars in your garden.

Providing Shelter and Hiding Spots

Caterpillars need safe places to hide. Provide a mix of:

• Herbs: Fennel, dill, and parsley¹
• Plants with dense foliage: Shrubs, tall grasses, or perennials

Plants with edible foliage that caterpillars can feed on provide both protection and nourishment.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the Black Swallowtail butterfly is a captivating addition to any garden, bringing both beauty and ecological balance.

To attract and support these butterflies, gardeners should focus on providing a mix of nectar and host plants, such as parsley, dill, and fennel.

Recognizing the various stages of the butterfly’s life cycle, from egg to adult, is crucial for their protection.

By creating a sunlit, sheltered environment and incorporating diverse plants, gardeners can ensure a thriving habitat for Black Swallowtails, contributing to the preservation of this remarkable species.