Re(2): monarch butterflies
- To: m*@ucdavis.edu
- Subject: Re(2): monarch butterflies
- From: c*@wenet.net (carol manahan)
- Date: Tue, 25 Jan 2000 22:05:44 -0800
Barry,
My field guide to California butterflies lists the following:
Western Tiger Swallowtail (Papilio rutulus)
larval food plants: deciduous broad-leaved trees, cottonwoods (Populus
sp.), Quaking Aspen (Populus tremuloides), various willows (Salix spp.);
White Alder (Alnus rhombifolia), Red Alder (A. rubra), Water Birch (Betula
fontinalis), Western Sycamore (Platanus racemosa), elms (Ulmus spp.); also
orchard trees such as Apple (Malus malus).
Pale Swallowtail (Papilio eurymedon)
larval food plants: buckthorn (Rhamnus spp.), in cluding California
Coffeeberry (R. californica) and Redberry (R. crocea); Ceanothus spp,
including Buck Brush (C. cuneatus) and Deer Brush (C. integerrimus);
Holly-leaved Cherry (Prunus ilicifolia).
Anise Swallowtail, Western Parsley Swallowtail (Papilio zelicaon)
larval food plants: originally native members of the parsley family, such
as Tauschia spp, Lomatium spp., Pteryxia spp. Now usually associated with
Anise (Foeniculum vulgare) and Carrot (Daucus carota). As you know, fennel
has established itself in lots of places outside of cultivation.
In general, the swallowtails (9 different species in California) choose
members of the carrot family or broad-leaved trees and shrubs for larval
food plants, except the Pipevine Swallowtail (Battus philenor) which feeds
on Aristolochia californica, Dutchman's Pipe.
Last year some Anise Swallotails laid their eggs on Fennel in our vegetable
garden, and larvae hatched, but before they got very big, they disappeared;
I guess they must have been eaten by birds. This year, if there are more
larvae, I'll put up bird netting, just to see if they can pupate. In the
garden, the adults visited most of the flowers briefly for nectar, but kept
returning to the scabiosa. I'm not sure what they prefer among native
plants. I'll watch better this year.
Carol Manahan
in Richmond, California, on San Francisco Bay
>I was wondering, what flowers will attract the Tiger Swallowtails? I know
>they are in this region (Monterey county, California), but the only place
>I have ever seen them was when I was at the peak of Fremont Peak (and
>tons of annoying smaller insects) and saw males fighting for females.
>Another pretty species that is native here and rare, is the Smith's Blue
>Butterfly, whose larvae only feed on the buckwheat that grows on the dunes.
>
>
>
>________________________________________________
>
>It's worth the risk of burning, to have a second chance...
