Tiger Swallowtail behavior

[James F Hanlon]

Tiger Swallowtails and most swallowtails in general are known to mud-puddle
extensively, usually at moist spots on dirt alongside streams. Perhaps there
was something on the grass that the lep wanted to drink or taste. In the
field, I have witnessed extensive swallowtail mud-puddling in the hot
climate of southeast Arizona, and also in hot and humid conditions in the
Amazon. But in the Santa Mountains of southern California, I have not seen
swallowtails mud-puddling, and there are usually a good number of Western
Tiger Swallowtails in the region.

Jim Hanlon

> -----Original Message-----
> From: owner-leps-l at lists.yale.edu [mailto:owner-leps-l at lists.yale.edu]On
> Behalf Of C. Steer
> Sent: Friday, July 31, 1998 3:38 PM
> To: leps-l at lists.yale.edu
> Subject: Tiger Swallowtail behavior
>
>
> Hi:
>
> The other day a female tiger swallowtail butterflies stop and land for a
> very short time on my grass. Then take off and land again. My
> guess is that
> she was laying eggs.
>
> I have tried to locate the eggs, but could not find any. I thought they
> would lay eggs on the food plant. Has anyone observed this behavior? Is
> this common to all swallowtails?
>
> Chuck
>
>