Many of us observe butterflies in our gardens or the outdoors but fail to fully appreciate their flitting beauty and complexities of life. Each butterfly has unique annual life cycle patterns, preferred host plants for the larva to feed upon, and preferred flowers on which to feed for nectar.
The Pale Swallowtail (Papilio eurymedon) is one of ten species of swallowtail butterflies found within California. With wings of pale cream with bold black borders and stripes, the pale swallowtail is less familiar to most than the more common Western Tiger Swallowtail. The caterpillar larva feed mostly on plants in the buckthorn family (genus Ceanothus) including California lilac, coffeeberry (Rhamnus californicus), and here in California ... alders (genus Alnus).
This species tends to prefer mountainous or hilly country consisting of dry slopes, chaparral brushlands, and roadsides and canyons (with alder). It is often seen taking nectar from mints, thistles (such as this red thistle), and buckeyes. This less-than-common butterfly can be found at the upper elevations of the UC-Hopland Research & Extension Center in or near the chaparral habitat.
