What is the host plant for the pipevine swallowtail?

genus Aristolochia
Plants from the genus Aristolochia are sometimes also called pipevines. As their name suggests, pipevine swallowtails host on pipevines. If you want to increase your chances of seeing these butterflies in your garden, plant some native pipevines for them to lay their eggs on.

What plants do pipevine swallowtail caterpillars eat?

In contrast, the caterpillars of pipevines, sometimes referred to as blue swallowtails, eat only the leaves of birthworts and dutchman’s pipes (Aristolochia). If you want to lure these butterflies into your garden you should provide them with birthwort vines available at native plant nurseries.

What pollinates Dutchman’s pipe?

fungus gnats
A Dutchman’s pipe (Aristolochia californica) native to the Coast Ranges of Central and Northern California, and foothills of the Sierra Nevada. This California species is pollinated by fungus gnats.

What does a swallowtail butterfly symbolize?

Common cultural depiction often use swallowtail butterflies to represent the grace and free nature of the ineffable human soul. Other concepts associated with swallowtail butterflies are hope, endurance, change, and life.

What flowers do pipevine swallowtails like?

Nectar host plants: There are many plants that are valuable as nectar sources for butterflies. Pink and purple flowers (e.g., phlox [Phlox species], ironweed [Vernonia species], and thistles [Cirsium species]) are particularly attractive to pipevine swallowtails (Scott 1986).

Where does a pipevine grow?

The plant is commonly found throughout Northern and Central California in moist areas—in woods and alongside creeks and streams, for example.

What eats Dutchman’s pipe?

Pipevine Swallowtail caterpillars feed on many plants in the genus Aristolochia (Dutchman’s Pipe). While there are many native Dutchman’s Pipe species to choose from, many of the tropical Dutchman’s Pipes are toxic to Pipevine Swallowtail caterpillars, although females may lay eggs on these species.

Is Dutchman’s pipevine carnivorous?

Its odd-looking, purple-striped flowers resemble old-fashioned, curved pipes. The pipe closes for a few hours when entered by insects, reopening later. Not a carnivorous plant, this behavior helps increase pollination by insects. Dutchman’s pipe needs only basic care and attention to do well.

How big do pipevine caterpillars get?

As larvae, caterpillars may grow to 5 cm (2 in); when full grown they are dark with large orange projections across the thorax and abdominal segments.