The
Butterfly Project:
The Pipevine Swallowtail is the main species that
we are reintroducing to our local environment.
It is listed in old references as being native
here, but has not been seen in this locality for
over 70 years. The primary reason for its disappearance
is its total dependency for its life-cycle on
the Dutchman's Pipevine plant,
Aristolocea
californica. The wild plant has disappeared
as a result of development pressures. The plant
grows slowly, and will take 3 to 5 years to support
a colony of butterflies and caterpillars. This
butterfly lays its eggs only on this species,
and the caterpillars only eat this plant. For
more information,
see
the website that we sponsor about this butterfly
project.
