Black swallowtail caterpillars are fascinating creatures, often found munching on various plants. As a gardener or butterfly enthusiast, you might have encountered these little critters on your greenery and wondered about their diet preferences.
Primarily, black swallowtail caterpillars feast on plants within the carrot family (Apiaceae), such as cultivated carrot, parsley, dill, and fennel, making them frequent visitors in your herb garden.
They can be seen consuming the leaves and flowers of these plants, playing a vital role in their life cycle.
With this knowledge, you can now better understand these caterpillars, ensuring a healthy and thriving environment for both the caterpillars and your cherished plants.
Black Swallowtail Caterpillar: Overview
You may have encountered a black swallowtail caterpillar without realizing it. These butterfly caterpillars are various shades of green.
They have narrow black bands on each body segment, which are interrupted by yellow-orange dots.
Their sizes can vary, but they can reach up to 2 inches in length. Black swallowtail caterpillars belong to the Papilio polyxenes species.
Both the male and female black swallowtail butterflies are beautiful, with shiny black wings and colorful markings.
As for their diet, black swallowtail caterpillars consume leaves and flowers from plants in the carrot family (Apiaceae).
These herbs are popular in gardens, which makes it likely for you to find these caterpillars munching on your plants. Don’t worry, though – the plants usually recover.
It’s fascinating to observe black swallowtail caterpillars in your garden. Their eating habits play an essential role in their metamorphosis.
What Do Black Swallowtail Caterpillars Eat?
General Diet
Black swallowtail caterpillars are herbivorous. Their diet consists mainly of leaves and flowers from their preferred host plants that belong to the Apiaceae family.
Apiaceae Family
The Apiaceae family, also known as the carrot family, includes several plants that black swallowtail caterpillars are fond of, such as:
- Parsley: Caterpillars enjoy munching on its leaves and flowers.
- Carrot: They relish carrot tops, consuming both leaves and flowers.
- Dill: It’s a popular host plant, often stripped down by the caterpillars.
- Fennel: Caterpillars also feed on its leaves and flowers.
- Queen Anne’s lace
- Turnips
Citrus and Other Plants
Apart from plants in the Apiaceae family, black swallowtail caterpillars also eat other plant species. Some of these are:
- Citrus: Although not as common, they can be found on citrus trees.
- Rue: A popular host in the citrus family, caterpillars feed on its leaves.
- Tulip tree: Occasionally, black swallowtail caterpillars also consume tulip tree leaves.
- Golden Alexander: Another favorite, caterpillars savor its leaves and flowers.
In addition to their main diet, black swallowtail caterpillars also benefit from nectar plants.
Some of these include: Clover, Milkweed, Thistles, and Phlox.
These flowering plants offer the butterflies nectar, a vital energy source.
Remember, black swallowtail caterpillars are voracious eaters, but their diet is primarily focused on plants within the Apiaceae family and a few other species.
By understanding their diet, you can provide a suitable habitat for these caterpillars and enjoy watching them transform into beautiful butterflies.
Lifestage: From Eggs to Butterflies
Here’s a quick summary of the lifecycle of black swallowtail butterflies
| Stage | Activity | Diet | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| Larva to Pupa | Eating, growing, and molting through various instars | Dill, fennel, Queen Anne’s lace | Varies; until fully grown |
| Metamorphosis | Transforming in chrysalis from caterpillar to butterfly | None | 10-20 days or up to months |
| Emerged Butterfly | Drying wings, flying, mating, and laying eggs | Nectar from various flowers | Until the end of adult life |
Black Swallowtail’s Distinct Features
Characteristics and Coloration
The Black Swallowtail caterpillar has a unique combination of colors. They are primarily green with narrow black bands on each body segment.
To add more vibrancy to their appearance, they also have yellow-orange dots interrupting the black bands.
These eye-catching caterpillars can reach up to 2 inches in length. Their distinct features make them easily recognizable among other caterpillar species.
Adult Black Swallowtail butterflies have a wingspan of 3¼ to 4¼ inches. Males predominantly exhibit yellow markings, while females display limited blue and red markings.
Swallowtail Butterfly Species
There are different species of Swallowtail butterflies, each with its distinct traits and appearance.
Let’s compare the Black Swallowtail with three other species – Zebra Swallowtail, Pipevine Swallowtail, and Spicebush Swallowtail:
| Species | Key Feature |
|---|---|
| Black Swallowtail | Black wings with yellow, blue, orange, and red markings |
| Zebra Swallowtail | Striking white wings with black stripes and long tails |
| Pipevine Swallowtail | Dark wings with iridescent blue or green hindwings |
| Spicebush Swallowtail | Black wings with blue and green patches, lighter underside |
- Zebra Swallowtails have white wings with black stripes resembling a zebra pattern, hence the name.
- Pipevine Swallowtails have dark wings with iridescent blue or green hindwings.
- Spicebush Swallowtails are recognized by the blue and green patches on their black wings, with a lighter underside.
What Eats Black Swallowtail Caterpillars?
Black swallowtail caterpillars, as with many other caterpillars, face numerous natural predators in their environment. Some common predators include:
- Wasps: Some species of wasps are known to prey on caterpillars, with certain parasitic wasps laying their eggs inside the caterpillars. Once the eggs hatch, the larvae will consume the caterpillar from the inside.
- Spiders: Many spiders catch and eat caterpillars, including black swallowtail caterpillars, that wander into their webs or come within their hunting range.
- Birds: Birds are common predators of caterpillars, with species like warblers, orioles, and cuckoos preying on various caterpillar types.
Conclusion
In summary, black swallowtail caterpillars are an essential component of our gardens and ecosystems.
They primarily feed on plants from the Apiaceae family, such as parsley, carrot, dill, and fennel, which are crucial for their development into adult butterflies.
These caterpillars undergo a fascinating lifecycle, transforming from vibrant green larvae to strikingly marked adult butterflies.
Gardeners can play a vital role in supporting these caterpillars by growing their preferred host plants and nectar-rich flowers.
However, it’s important to be mindful of their natural predators like wasps, spiders, and birds, which are part of the ecological balance.
By understanding and fostering the habitat of black swallowtail caterpillars, we not only contribute to the preservation of a beautiful butterfly species but also enhance the biodiversity and health of our gardens.
7 Comments. Leave new
It would appear that I’m not the only one who plants parsley in the hopes of attracting black swallowtail butterflies. My family seems to think I’m a little loopy to do this, but now I know I’m not alone!
Oh wish i could grow it here
Awesome! Thank you so much!
I am going to raise it until it turns to a butterfly 🙂
Oh, and I found out by accident about the orange horns it sprouts when agitated!!
Yes, the osmetrium is an interesting organ to deter predators.
What do they look for when they are ready to pupate? I move monarch pupas all the time so we can watch them hatch in the house. I suppose I could do the same thing in my 30 degree garage.
What is the normal pupation time for this swallow tail.
They survived the frost! By Sunday temps will be near 80.
I’m going to put sticks in the carrot patch to give them a place to hang on.Then I can move them to a sheltered location