how do they do it? seeing larvae

[Kenelm Philip]

> Does anyone know how one can induce a female tiger swallowtail to lay
> eggs in captivity?

	The usual method is to cage the butterfly with the foodplant, and
provide warmth and sunlight. That doesn't always work--but it works in
many cases. I've had good luck with _Nymphalis antiopa_ (Mourning Cloak),
_Polygonia faunus_ (Green Comma), _P. gracilis_ (Hoary Anglewing), and
_Papilio machaon_ (Old World Swallowtail). The only problem is finding
out what an acceptable foodplant might be for the species involved, but
there's a lot of information on that topic in the literature. Tiger
Swallowtail larvae will feed on a wide variety of plants, including
poplar, willow, alder, birch, ash, cherry, sassafras, heaths, and others.
There will be regional variations in preferred foods.

							Ken Philip
fnkwp at uaf.edu




 
 ------------------------------------------------------------ 

   For subscription and related information about LEPS-L visit:

   http://www.peabody.yale.edu/other/lepsl