Scientific Name: Papilio rutulus
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The Western tiger swallowtail butterfly lives in woodlands including suburban areas. The females lay their eggs on host plants like maples, cottonwood, willow and wild cherry. When the eggs hatch, the caterpillars emerge and eat the leaves and rest on silken mats in the curled leaves. When the caterpillars are done growing they form into chrysalis that hibernate and emerge as adult butterflies. The adults drink nectar from flowering plants like thistles.
