The larvae feed from within nests made by tying several leaves together with 
silk. Sometimes they cause heavy defoliation locally. Pupation takes place in loose 
cocoons spun among the leaves, usually on the ground. In the South there are two 
generations per year, farther north there may be only one generation or one and a 
partial second. 
Family Papilionidae 
Swallowtail Butterflies 
Swallowtail butterflies are of considerable interest to many people because of 
their large size and striking appearance; otherwise, they are of minor importance. 
The adults are distinguished by the wavy margins and taillike prolongations of the 
hindwings; the larvae, by the protrusile, bright-colored, forked processes rising 
from the first thoracic segment. These processes also emit a disagreeable odor 
when the caterpillar is disturbed. 
The tiger swallowtail, Papilio glaucus L., commonly occurs in eastern North 
America. The caterpillars feed on various deciduous trees such as ash, birch, 
basswood, cherry, and poplar. Full-grown larvae are dark green and about 37 mm 
long. The third thoracic segment is enlarged and marked on each side by a large 
yellow spot. This spot is edged with black and encloses a small purple spot that is 
also edged with black. The distal part of the first abdominal segment bears a 
transverse, yellowish ridge, edged posteriorly with black. The caterpillar spins a 
silken mat upon the surface of the leaf which usually causes the leaf to fold 
lengthwise. Resting caterpillars are found inside this fold. Transformation to the 
chrysalis usually takes place on some object above the ground. 
The spicebush swallowtail, P. troilus L., occurs throughout the eastern part of 
the United States and its principal food plants are spicebush and sassafras. Full- 
grown larvae are about 37 mm long. The body is widest at the third thoracic 
segment. The head and venter are pink, the dorsum pea-green, the sides yellowish, 
and there is a transverse black line on the prothorax. The third thoracic and first 
abdominal segment each bears two orange spots. Those on the thorax have black 
centers. Six small spots are on second and seventh abdominal segments and four on 
the eighth. P. cresphontes Cramer feeds on prickly-ash in the Northern States and 
on citrus in the South. 
Graphium marcellus (Cramer), the zebra swallowtail, feeds on pawpaw. 
Family Nymphalidae 
Brushfooted Butterflies 
This family contains some of our most common butterflies. The adults are 
medium to large and are distinguished by having the forelegs much reduced and 
without claws. Only the middle and hind pairs are used for walking. The head of the 
caterpillar is usually bilobed, the tips of the lobes often supporting branched spines, 
and the body is spiny or bears fleshy, hair-covered warts. The chrysalids are naked 
and are usually suspended by the cremaster. 
Polygonia interrogationis (F.), the question-mark, feeds on elm, basswood, and 
hackberry in eastern America, especially on sprout growth along roadsides. Full- 
grown caterpillars (fig. 63) are brownish with yellow mottlings and are about 37 
mm long. Each body segment bears a transverse row of light-colored branched 
spines. There are two generations per year. P. comma (Harris), the comma, occurs 
on elm, nettle, and hops from Canada to the Carolinas and Texas. Full-grown 
caterpillars are yellowish white, and each body segment bears a transverse row of 
branched spines. 
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