Pipevine Swallowtail (Battus philenor) eggs were laid 3/10/18 on Aristochia tomentosa (Woolly Pipevine), and are now hatched on 3/18/18. Fifteen eggs were laid, and all have hatched & are healthy. These little guys are quite gregarious. The first 3 instars they eat together as a big family. But once they are bigger, they separate and it's survival of the fittest. You have to make sure there is plenty of food available for them. Pipevine caterpillars are heavy eaters, and if there are to many caterpillars together, or not enough food, they are cannibalistic. So be prepared, plant lots of Aristolochia for them.
Want to attract and keep a colony of Pipevine Swallowtails in your garden? As with all butterflies, native plants are important. But for the Pipevine Swallowtail, if a native is not used, it is deadly! Understanding & knowing Scientific names of plants is important for this very reason. If you don't use a native, once the eggs hatch & the caterpillars start to eat, they will die. This is because they aren't use to the toxic levels found in many exotic Aristolochia's.
Texas Native Aristolochia are:
Swan Flower (Aristolochia erecta)
Texas Snakeroot (Aristolochia serpentaria)
Texas Pipevine (Aristolochia coryi)
Woolly Pipevine (Aristolochia tomentosa)
Aristilochia reticulata
Aristilochia wrightii
Aristilochia watsonii
Other US Natives are:
Aristolochia californica
Aristolochia durior
Aristolochia macrophylla
Aristolochia trilobata
Non-native safe plants:
Aristochia fimbriata
aristolochia clematitis
Peace, Love, and Butterflies✌🏼💝🦋🦋
