Two-tailed swallowtail facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Two-tailed swallowtail
Conservation status
Least Concern (IUCN 3.1)
Secure (NatureServe)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Lepidoptera
Family:	Papilionidae
Genus:	Papilio
Species:	P. multicaudata
Binomial name
Papilio multicaudata W.F. Kirby, 1884
Subspecies
Three, see text
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Synonyms
Papilio multicaudatus

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The two-tailed swallowtail (Papilio multicaudata) is a giant, colorful insect. It belongs to the butterfly family Papilionidae. This creature lives in western North America. It flies from British Columbia down to Central America. It is famous for bright yellow wings with bold black tiger stripes.

This butterfly is very active in nature. It loves sunny canyons and moist valleys. In addition, it is the official state butterfly of Arizona.

Physical Appearance and Identification

Mud-puddling in Arizona, United States

This creature is the largest swallowtail in western North America. Its wingspan ranges from 3 to 6.5 inches (7.6 to 16.5 cm) wide. That makes it bigger than most other bugs in your backyard!

Each hindwing has two thin tails extending from the bottom edge. These streamer tails give the butterfly its common name. Most other tiger swallowtails only have one tail per wing. Its colors feature bright yellow with neat, narrow black tiger stripes.

Clever Tricks to Fool Predators

Bright colors help this butterfly stay alive in the wild. Each lower wing has vivid blue markings along the bottom edges. It also displays a small, round orange eyespot nearby.

This fake eye can fool hungry birds and other predators. An attacker often strikes the rear wings instead of the butterfly's head. The insect loses a piece of wing but survives to fly away. Most two-tailed swallowtails even have a dark black slit pupil inside the spot!

Differences Between Males and Females

Male and female two-tailed swallowtails look slightly different. Females are usually larger than males. They show richer yellow or soft orange tones across their wings. Females also have wider black bands and more blue shading on their hindwings.

Males have narrower dark stripes on their wings. They also have special structures called claspers at the end of their bodies. These yellow tips sit just past the black bands on the abdomen.

• 

  Female nectaring, with wide black stripes on her forewings

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  Male mud-puddling, with narrow stripes and claspers

Comparing Similar Swallowtails

This butterfly shares territory with close cousins. It looks very similar to the western tiger swallowtail. It also resembles the well-known eastern tiger swallowtail.

However, you can spot the differences if you look closely. The two-tailed swallowtail has two tails on each hindwing. The other species usually have only one tail. It also has narrower black stripes on the front wings. Unlike its relatives, this species rarely mixes or breeds with other swallowtail types.

Where Does the Two-Tailed Swallowtail Live?

Caterpillar

This butterfly enjoys a huge geographic range across the continent. It flies south from Guatemala and throughout Mexico. It also travels through the western United States. In the north, it reaches Canadian provinces like Alberta and southwestern Saskatchewan.

These insects prefer habitats with plenty of water and sunshine. They thrive in lush canyons, moist mountain valleys, and streamside forests. They also visit gardens, city parks, and towns at lower elevations.

Favorite Food and Host Plants

Adult butterflies feed on sweet nectar from many blooming flowers. They use a long drinking straw called a proboscis to sip nectar.

Males also gather along wet dirt roads or riverbanks. This behavior is called mud-puddling. The butterflies drink damp soil water to absorb vital salts and minerals.

Mother butterflies must pick special host plants for their future young. Caterpillars only chew on leaves from certain trees and shrubs. Common host plants include:

• Chokecherry and bitter cherry trees
• Arizona rosewood and Arizona sycamore
• California hoptree bushes
• Single-leaf ash and green ash trees

Life Cycle and Metamorphosis

Papilio multicaudata, the two-tailed swallowtail, on Swamp Milkweed

The life of a two-tailed swallowtail involves four stages of complete change. Adults fly during the warm spring and summer months. There is usually only one brood, or generation, born each year.

The Egg and Growing Caterpillar

A female butterfly lays her eggs singly on host tree leaves. Each tiny egg hatches into a hungry green caterpillar. The young caterpillar builds a cozy resting shelter for protection. It folds a leaf and ties it tightly with silk threads.

During the day, it hides safely inside this leafy home. At night, it creeps out to feed on nearby foliage. The caterpillar grows rapidly and sheds its skin several times.

Resting Pupae and Winter Sleep

When it finishes growing, the caterpillar turns into a chrysalis. In this resting stage, it is called a pupa. The pupa looks like a brown stick or dry curled leaf.

This smart camouflage hides it from hungry winter birds. The pupa stays dormant through cold autumn winds and winter snows. When warm May sunshine arrives, the adult butterfly finally breaks free. It stretches its wings and flies into the summer skies.

Subspecies

Scientists recognize three distinct subspecies of this amazing insect:

• P. m. grandiosus – Found high in the rugged mountains of Mexico.
• P. m. multicaudata – Lives from Colorado and New Mexico south into Texas and Mexico.
• P. m. pusillus – Lives across the Rocky Mountains, the Pacific Northwest, and California.

See also

In Spanish: Papilio multicaudata para niños