Pale Tiger Swallowtail Egg 3Pale Tiger Swallotail Egg 2Pale Tiger Swallowtail Egg

Pale Swallowtail Eggs

My friend Eva watched a Pale Swallowtail (Pterourus eurymedon) lay eggs on her Peach Tree (Prunus) today, then she gave me the eggs!  I’m not sure all 3 eggs will hatch, but I will keep you posted on their progress and let you know what the caterpillars decides to eat.
The “preferred” host plants for the Pale Swallowtails are plants in the buckthorn fmaily, including Mountain Lilac,  Mountain Balm, California Lilac (Ceanothus), Holly-Leaf Cherry (Prunus ilicifolia) and Coffeeberry (Rhamnus californicus) and Alders (Alnus).  This will be only the 3rd time I’ve had the pleasure of  raising Pale Swallowtails and would love to hear from someone who has sucsessfully raised Pale Swallowtail Butterflies.