Two-tailed Swallowtail

Papilio multicaudata

The Two-tailed Swallowtail is a beautiful butterfly with bright yellow wings and black markings. It has two long tails that look like little streamers, making it very special and fun to see fluttering around flowers.

Hábitat: Forests

Aspecto

The Two-tailed Swallowtail is a large, bright yellow butterfly marked with bold black stripes and dark wing margins. Its hindwings famously feature two prominent tail-like extensions and striking blue and orange spots near these tails, making it visually distinct.

ReinoAnimaliaFiloArthropodaClaseInsectaOrdenLepidopteraFamiliaPapilionidaeGéneroPapilio

Two-tailed Swallowtail

Categoría

Insectos

Rareza

Common

Peligro

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Snaps

¡Sé la primera persona en hacer un snap!

Datos interesantes

It's the state insect of Colorado, but lives in many other places too!

Its name comes from having two 'tails' on each hindwing, making it easy to identify!

This butterfly loves the sun and often 'basks' with its wings open to warm up!

Young caterpillars look like bird droppings to hide from hungry birds!

Habilidades especiales

Two-tailed Swallowtail has hindwing 'tails' that help them trick predators into attacking a less vital part of their body, allowing escape.

Two-tailed Swallowtail larvae can pop out an orange, Y-shaped osmeterium that emits a foul smell to scare away predators.

Two-tailed Swallowtail caterpillars can mimic bird droppings when young, which helps them hide from hungry predators.

Medidas y detalles

Envergadura: 70-100 mm
Tamaño: 25-35 mm
Esperanza de vida: 10-14 días
Velocidad de vuelo: 18 km/h
Cantidad de patas: 6

Dieta y alimentación

Adults sip nectar from flowers; caterpillars munch on tree leaves.

Diferencias por edad: Larvae eat leaves, while adults only drink flower nectar.

Alimentos principales

Nectar
Chokecherry leaves
Aspen leaves
Willow leaves

Método de búsqueda

Foraging

Conexiones ecológicas

depends on

Chokecherry

Prunus virginiana

Larvae feed on its leaves for growth.

pollinates

Lilac

Syringa vulgaris

Adults drink nectar, helping to spread pollen.

eaten by

Steller's Jay

Cyanocitta stelleri

Birds prey on both caterpillars and adult butterflies.

Rasgos

Aéreo

Las criaturas aéreas pasan una parte importante de su vida en el aire, utilizando el vuelo para diversas actividades como la caza, la migración o la anidación.