Spicebush Swallowtail on Wild Bergamot

If you didn't believe yesterday's Silver-spotted Skipper that Wild Bergamot has delicious nectar, then maybe you'll believe this Spicebush Swallowtail. I've talked about identifying these butterflies before; you can just about see the orange spots interruption on the left wing of this guy.

Note that their name, Spicebush, has nothing to do with the flowers from which they'll drink nectar; most of the time, nectar is nectar. And although the flower's architecture and color could influence the pollinators it attracts, most pollinators (including the Spicebush Swallowtail) will go to an assortment of flowers.

Instead, plant names in butterflies/moths are more likely to reflect the host plants they feed on as caterpillars. As caterpillars, these guys feed on spicebush and sassafras, 2 plants in the laurel family. Note that using multiple host plants from the same family is a very common theme among butterflies/moths: Monarchs like milkweeds, sulphurs generally like legumes, Cabbage Whites like many plants in the cabbage/mustard family, Black Swallowtails enjoy plants in the carrot/parsley family, etc.

July 18, 2021 at Scherman Hoffman Wildlife Sanctuary
Photo 148188298, (c) jpviolette, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC)


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