© Copyright Sheryl Pollock 2011 · 11 Papilio glaucus, Eastern Tiger Swallowtail IDnature guides Butterflies Butterflies San Luis Caterpillars Checklist Australia Lepidoptera Checklist United Kingdom Fruit Pests Groups Insecta Moth British Isles Moth Costa Rica Moth Hawaii North American Invasives USGAClarke 80x5 - 240x3 - 240x4 - 320x1 - 320x2 - 320x3 - 640x1 - 640x2 Set display option above. Click on images to enlarge. © John Pickering, 2004-2023 · 10 Eurytides marcellus, Zebra swallowtail © Copyright Sheryl Pollock 2011 · 9 Papilio polyxenes, Black Swallowtail Male © Copyright Sheryl Pollock 2011 · 8 Papilio troilus, Spicebush Swallowtail Male © Copyright Sheryl Pollock 2011 · 8 Papilio glaucus, Tiger Swallowtail male © Copyright Sheryl Pollock 2011 · 8 Papilio polyxenes, Black Swallowtail Male © Copyright Sheryl Pollock 2011 · 8 Papilio polyxenes, Black Swallowtail Female © Copyright Sheryl Pollock 2011 · 8 Eurytides marcellus, Zebra Swallowtail © Copyright Sheryl Pollock 2011 · 8 Eurytides marcellus, Zebra Swallowtail © Copyright Sheryl Pollock 2011 · 7 Battus philenor, Pipevine Swallowtail © Copyright Sheryl Pollock 2011 · 7 Papilio troilus, Spicebush Swallowtail © Copyright Sheryl Pollock 2011 · 7 Papilio troilus, Spicebush Swallowtail © Copyright Sheryl Pollock 2011 · 7 Papilio glaucus, Eastern Tiger Swallowtail intermediate form © John Pickering, 2004-2023 · 7 Battus philenor, Pipevine Swallowtail, larva © Justin Valleau, 2007 · 6 Papilio cresphontes © John Pickering, 2004-2023 · 1 Papilio glaucus, top © John Pickering, 2004-2023 · 1 Papilio glaucus, bottom see all kinds   •  852 thumbnails  •  slide show Kinds Battus Chilasa Cressida Eurytides Graphium Heraclides Iphiclides Mimoides Ornithoptera Pachliopta Papilio Parides Parnassius Protesilaus Protographium Pterourus Zerynthia Overview The family Papilionidae is composed mainly of Swallowtails and Apollos (Parnassians). These large, beautifully-colored butterflies can be found throughout the world. As with most insects, swallowtail diversity is concentrated in the tropics, although some are found in Arctic regions. Collectively, there are about 534 species in Papilionidae. Thirty of these species make their home in North America. Most are found in the southern United States. Butterflies develop through several sequential stages, from egg to larva to pupa, and then to adulthood. These stages are called metamorphosis. Swallowtail pupae have two head horns and a prong on their thorax. They use a silk girdle to attach themselves to surfaces. Pupae often mimic their surroundings to hide from predators. They often hibernate. Swallowtail larvae have no spines but do possess an osmeterium, a special gland that is used to inhibit potential predators by releasing foul-smelling acids. They feed on plants in the Rosaceae (Roses) family, and some primitive plants like Magnoliaceae (Magnolia) and Lauraceae (Laurel). Parnassian larvae rarely use their osmeteria. When young, the larvae have short hairs on the sides of their body. Eventually, these hairs completely cover the larvae. Parnassian larvae eat Aristolochiaceae (Wild Ginger, Birthwort), Crassulaceae (Stonecrop), and Fumariaceae (Poppy), among other plants. Apollos can pupate underground or under rocks. They sometimes create a silk cocoon when pupating. The eggs and pupae occasionally hibernate. Some experts believe that Parnassian larvae mimic millipedes. Swallowtails and Apollos rest with their wings spread. When on the move, adults can fly quite fast due to their size, but flap their wings slowly. Swallowtails flutter their wings while feeding. All Papilionidae adults feed on flowers. Links to other sites Papilionidae of the World: a pictorial summary Papilionidae-- USGS Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center Caterpillars of Eastern Forests-- USGS Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center Thumbnails of some North American Swallowtails-- USGS Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center Swallowtails-- North American Butterfly Association Papilionidae-- University of Michigan Museum of Zoology Examples of African Swallowtails References Scott, James A. 1986. The Butterflies of North America. Standford University Press, Stanford, California. ISBN 0-8047-1205-0. Acknowledgements Sharon Ballew John Pickering University of Georgia, Athens We thank Becca Haynes for help photographing butterflies and developing the butterfly pages, Nancy Lowe for illustrations, Brian Scholtens of the College of Charleston for providing support, and Cecil Smith and the University of Georgia's Natural History Museum Entomology Collections for loaning us specimens. Supported by National Biological Information Infrastructure National Science Foundation go to Discover Life's Facebook group Updated: 2024-04-25 23:25:05 gmt Discover Life | Top © Designed by The Polistes Corporation