Mixed and deciduous forests; open areas,
even in urban areas
Food:
Larvae feed on willow, alder, sycamore,and
aspen.
Lifecycle:
Complete metamorphosis-4 stages
Winter Survival:
Hibernation
Lifespan:
Unknown
Adaptations:
Tongue fits into narrow flowers.
Sleep Cycle:
Diurnal
Niche:
Prey
Role to Humans:
Beneficial
Population:
Common
Interesting Facts:
Unknown
Sources:
Simon and Schuster's Guide to Insects,
The Aubudon Society to North American Insects and Spiders
Scientific Drawing
Western Swallowtail Butterfly
Today I came out of my egg and I was really hungry
so I went to get some food. While I ate leaves, I was
getting bigger and bigger. I ate and ate until I came
upon a maggot. We started talking and became the best
of friends. Every morning he would say, "Are you ready
yet?" but I never knew what he meant. One morning he didn't
ask me. Then I realized that I was hanging from a high
place. I waited to see what was happening, for what seemed
like an eternity. Suddenly, everything went dark and I
fell asleep. It seemed like I had been asleep forever.
I finally woke up and emerged as an adult butterfly from
what felt like another egg, but it was really a chrysalis.
I saw the maggot who had now become a full fledged fly.
I asked, "When did you become a fly?" "I pupated just
like you, silly", he replied. "Is that why you kept asking
me if I was ready?" I asked. "Yes it is." He answered.
Soon, we each mated and laid eggs of our own. Right after
I lay my eggs, I will die but the life cycle will start
again and will continue with my eggs, my children's eggs
and keep going until we are extinct.
