dutchman's pipe butterfly

Is Dutchman's pipe poisonous to humans?

All members of Aristolochia macrophylla contain the natural substance aristolochic acid. This acid is toxic to humans.

Are pipevine swallowtails rare?

Although the Pipevine Swallowtail is not listed as a rare butterfly, native stands of pipevine are becoming less and less common. There are many locations where the local pipevine population has dropped so low that the Pipevine Swallowtail is no longer sighted.

Is Dutchman's pipe a perennial?

Dutchman's pipe (is a perennial vine with heart-shaped leaves and unusual blossoms.

What do pipevine swallowtails eat?

What do they eat? Caterpillars (larvae) eat the leaves and seedpods of the pipevine plant. Adult butterflies feed on a variety of plants for their nectar and may also seek out minerals at puddles.

Does Dutchman pipe smell?

As with any flower, its all about sex. These elaborate blooms emit a foul odor, which attracts flies. Looking for a meal and perhaps a place to lay their eggs, the flies crawl down into the curved tubular neck. Once inside they become trapped by backward pointing hairs.

Are pipevine swallowtail caterpillars poisonous to touch?

Both the caterpillar and the adult are poisonous. The caterpillars of the Pipevine Swallowtail feed on the poisonous host plant, Aristolochia, also known as the pipevine, Dutchman's pipe or birthwort. It contains the lethal toxin aristolochic acid. ... Adults routinely live a month or so."

How long does it take for a swallowtail caterpillar to turn into a butterfly?

Black Swallowtail Life Cycle: Overview and Timings

Stage	Typical Duration
Egg stage	Generally 4 to 10 days, depending on temperature and host plant
Caterpillar (larval) stage	3 to 4 weeks
Chrysalis (pupal) stage	10 to 20 days (except for overwintering pupae)
Adult butterfly stage	6 to 14 days

How long do pipevine swallowtail butterflies live?

Pipevine Swallowtail Life Cycle Stages and Times

Stage	Typical Duration
Egg stage	Generally 4 to 10 days, depending on temperature and host plant
Caterpillar (larval) stage	3 to 4 weeks
Chrysalis (pupal) stage	10 to 20 days (except for overwintering pupae)
Adult butterfly stage	6 to 14 days

Where does Dutchman's pipe grow?

Dutchman's pipe is a woody, deciduous vine native to eastern North America. A vigorous grower, it can reach heights of up to 20 or 30 feet tall once mature.

How fast does Dutchman's pipe grow?

Because it grows up to 6 feet a year and matures at about 30 feet long, Dutchman's pipe benefits from annual pruning to keep it under control. Prune plants in early spring, removing weak or damaged stems at their base.

How do you root Dutchman's pipe?

A more common way of growing a Dutchman's pipe vine is from stem cuttings. Take them in spring when terminal growth is new and root in a glass of water. Change the water daily to prevent bacterial build-up and transplant the stem to soil when it has a thick clump of roots.

How do you plant Dutchman's pipe seeds?

Growing a Dutchman's Pipe from Seed

Once the seeds are soaked for 48 hours, plant them in a moistened mixture of 1 part perlite to 5 parts potting soil. Plant two seeds about ½ inch (1.3 cm.) apart in a 4-inch (10 cm.) pot.

Are swallowtail butterflies helpful or harmful?

Black swallowtails are not really harmful as adults but they don't directly benefit any garden plants either. Their young are considered pests in large numbers, but the average hatch doesn't kill carrot plants, just defoliates them.

What plants do swallowtail butterflies lay their eggs on?

The wet June has made for a long season for dill, fennel, parsley and rue the plants on which Swallowtail butterflies lay their eggs. Below are tips for raising them at home. First, locate the eggs. The tiny yellow spheres perch prominently on the leaves of dill, fennel, parsley and rue.

Do birds eat black swallowtail caterpillars?

While adult birds can live well on seeds and berries, nestlings are unable to digest these yet and require juicy caterpillars to help them grow. Black Swallowtail caterpillars feed on plants in the Apiaceae family – that's carrots, dill, fennel, parsley, celery, caraway.

Why does the Dutchman pipe flower trap gnats?

Small gnats land on the vertical upper calyx surface but slip down through the floral tube and into the inflated "pipe chamber" due to slippery wax granules on the inner surface. Dense, downward-pointing hairs in the floral tube prevent the gnats from climbing out.

Is Dutchman's pipe deer resistant?

The Dutchman's Pipe is the main larval food source for the Pipevine Swallowtail Butterfly. The flowers emit an odor that attracts flies and aids in pollination. The vine is moderately resistant to deer.

How do you attract a pipevine swallowtail?

Try planting native pipevines plants to draw them in. The Pipevine Swallowtail seems like a drab black butterfly, until you get a glimpse of the iridescent blue lower wings of the male flashing in the sun. Once you see that, I promise, you'll be hooked and want to attract this butterfly to your own garden!

Can a butterfly bite?

Butterflies don't bite because they can't. Caterpillars munch on leaves and eat voraciously with their chewing mouthparts, and some of them do bite if they feel threatened. But once they become butterflies, they only have a long, curled proboscis, which is like a soft drinking straw—their jaws are gone.

Can a butterfly kill you?

No butterflies are so poisonous that they kill people or large animals, but there is an African moth whose caterpillar's fluids are very poisonous.

What is the most dangerous butterfly?

Antimachus Swallowtail : The most poisonous butterfly in the world! - This butterfly has a wing span of 8 to 9 inches and is from Uganda. It has enough poison in its body to kill six cats!