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swallowtail butterfly

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swallowtail butterfly

Any of more than 500 species (genus Papilio, family Papilionidae) of butterflies found worldwide except in the Arctic. Some have tail-like extensions of the hind wing. Colour patterns vary with species, sex, season, and sometimes location (see tiger swallowtail). Most adults have yellow, orange, red, green, or blue markings on an iridescent black, blue, or green background. The brightly coloured larvae eat foliage. Some have markings resembling a snake's head, and many discharge a bad-smelling substance when disturbed. The giant swallowtail (P. cresphontes), with a wingspan of 4–5.5 in. (10–14 cm), is the largest butterfly in the U.S. and Canada.



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The blue-green-streaked wings of the swallowtail butterfly harbor an intricate optical system with a design reminiscent of the latest in light-emitting diode technology, researchers now report.
Way to glow: butterfly-wing structure matches high-tech lights' design by Cunningham, A. / Science News
Flower buds are small, rounded, and pale brown, and the nectar entices hummingbirds, tiger swallowtail butterfly larva, and bees.
The showy northern catalpa by Amoroso, Meghan / American Forests
``I wanted an interactive garden for children and the handicapped and elderly, and butterflies can't really hurt anyone,'' she said, flipping through a scrapbook showing the garden's planting in January 2004, the first ``customer,'' a Western swallowtail butterfly eating purple flowers in May of 2004 and the effect of the summer fires on the garden.
PLACERITA LAUNCHES POST-BLAZE COMEBACK by Daily News (Los Angeles, CA)
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