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Host plants are essential for butterflies.
The lifecycle of a butterfly is egg, larva (caterpillar), pupa (chrysalis), and adult.
Eggs are laid either on or near a host plant. The host plants are specific to each butterfly species. A host plant is the plant a caterpillar eats.
Butterfly caterpillars are limited from one to several species of plants. Monarchs eat only milkweed. Gulf Fritillaries and Zebra Lolngwings eat only passionvine.
A female butterfly is attracted to host plants to lay eggs. Some species of butterflies are extremely particular. Zebra Longwings lay their eggs only on passionvine, only in the shade, and in most instances only on the tips and tendrals. Also laying eggs on passionvine are Gulf Fritillaries. They lay thier eggs in the sun and anywhere on the plant or near the plant. Often they prefer to lay eggs on objects close to the plant rather than on the plant itself. Gulf Fritillaries will lay thier eggs on people if they are near their host plant.
A milkweed is to a Monarch much like what a tomato plant is to a tomato. Without tomato plants, we would not have tomatos. Without milkweed, we would not have Monarchs. Each butterfly species has its own host plants. Some species use the same plants as other species, such as Spicebush Swallowtail and Palamedes Swallowtail caterpillars will both feed upon Swamp Bay.
Because species of butterflies differ from region to region, a list of host plants for your area will differ from a list for another area of the United States or world. This proves a challange for gardening magazines who serve readers from coast to coast. Not many species are in all fifty states.
Would you like to learn which butterflies are reported in your state and county? Visit Butterflies and Moths and go to Map Search. Information from host plant preferences to habitat are included with each species listed.
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