Tiger Swallowtail Butterfly (male) missing one tail
Стоковые фотографии по запросу Swallowtail butterfly
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Swallowtail Butterfly Features and Characteristics
Most (not all) of these large, brightly colored butterflies feature tails on their hind wings. These tail-like appendages resemble the tails of swallow family of birds, hence their name.
Swallowtails feed on flowers, and can often be found in mud or damp sand where they sip dissolved minerals and salts. They beat their wings rapidly when feeding on nectar, as a balancing technique.
Swallowtail Eggs, Caterpillars and Pupae
The eggs are spherical in shape and pale green in color, and darken over time.
The young caterpillars of Tiger, Black, Spicebush, Anise and Giant swallowtails all appear to be bird droppings.
Caterpillars evolve into incredible colors and some adopt false eyespots (see photo to the right) as a defense mechanism.
Spicebush Swallowtail Caterpillar
The caterpillars have an osmeterium, a forked shaped gland that can be extended from behind the head as another defense mechanism. This glad emits a foul smell to repel potential predators. Pupae are generally brown or green.
Swallowtail Butterfly Family Groups
In North America, swallowtails fall into four general groups:
- Black swallowtails (Papilio)
- Giant swallowtails (Heraclides)
- Tiger swallowtails (Pterourus)
- Pipevine swallowtails (Battus)
