6 Fascinating Swallowtail Butterfly Facts

You might already love watching swallowtails in the garden, but there’s much more to learn about these stunning pollinators. Enjoy these fascinating swallowtail butterfly facts.

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Female Swallowtail Butterflies Produce Many Eggs

black swallowtail on coneflower perennial plants — Black swallowtail on purple coneflower

A female black swallowtail can lay up to 400 eggs in her short life.

Check out six common types of swallowtail butterflies you should know.

The Most Popular Swallowtail is Common in Backyards

eastern tiger swallowtail — Eastern tiger swallowtail on lilac bush

The eastern tiger is one of the most common and well-known swallowtails in the U.S. Here’s a fun fact—this yellow butterfly has even made an appearance on two official postage stamps.

Grow the the top 10 host plants for swallowtail butterflies.

One Swallowtail is the Largest Butterfly in North America

giant swallowtail butterfly — Female giant swallowtail laying eggs on a citrus tree

Here’s one of the biggest and best swallowtail butterfly facts! With a wingspan of up to 6 1/4 inches, the giant swallowtail is the largest North American butterfly.

Zebra Swallowtails Have a Unique Look

You know that birds and squirrels have long tails, but some butterflies do too! Zebra swallowtails have longer tails on their hindwings than any other species—up to 1 inch long.

Impress your friends with these facts about monarch butterflies.

Dozens of Swallowtail Species Live in North America

Zinnia and butterfly — A pipevine swallowtail on a zinnia flower

More than 550 species of swallowtails are found around the world. At least 30 of them can be spotted in North America. Use this butterfly ID cheat sheet to help identify the butterflies in your backyard.

Learn how to attract pipevine swallowtail butterflies to your garden.

Visit Florida or Mexico to See Rare Swallowtails

While most swallowtails are more common, the Florida Keys are the only place to see 350 federally endangered Schaus swallowtails. The Oaxacan swallowtail, found in just one humid Mexican forest, is among seven threatened swallowtails.

Next, check out fascinating dragonfly facts you should know.

Sources

Author

Sheryl DeVore

Sheryl DeVore is a science, nature, health and social issues writer, editor and educator. In addition to being an expert on wild birds, she has been studying plants, insects and other natural wonders for more than 25 years. Her byline has appeared in publications such as Birds & Blooms and The Chicago Tribune.

Reviewer

Kenn and Kimberly Kaufman

As a teenager in the 1970s, Kenn Kaufman hitch-hiked all over North America in pursuit of birds, an adventure later chronicled in his cult-classic book Kingbird Highway. After several years as a professional nature tour leader, taking groups to all seven continents, he transitioned to a career as a writer, editor, and illustrator. His 14 books incl...

Fact Checker

Kirsten Schrader

Now Birds & Blooms' content director, Kirsten has been writing about birding and gardening for 17 years. Her writing and editing roles have spanned the print and digital landscape. Although she has traveled to see amazing birds throughout the U.S., Kirsten has one dream bucket list bird—the male painted bunting.