Table of Contents for Cedar Rapids, IA Swallowtails
The Cedar Rapids, IA area is located in east-central Iowa in the United States. The City of Cedar Rapids is located in zone 5b, while the outlying areas in Linn County are located in zone 5a. There are five species of swallowtail butterflies that you can host in your garden in Cedar Rapids.
Location of the Cedar Rapids, IA Area
The Cedar Rapids, IA area is located in east-central Iowa in Linn County. The purposes of this post we will be discussing those swallowtails known to occur in Linn County.
USDA Plant Hardiness Zones in Cedar Rapids, IA
The City of Cedar Rapids, IA is primarily located in zone 5b. Just outside Cedar Rapids in Linn County is zone 5a. When selecting plants you will want to get those that can handle temperatures as cold as -20F to be sure they will survive, even though it may be warmer in Cedar Rapids itself.
Pipevine Swallowtail (Battus philenor) and its host plants in Cedar Rapids, Iowa
Pipevine Swallowtail (Battus philenor)
The pipevine swallowtail flies throughout the United States, except for the Pacific Northwest. It has orange-brown eggs that are laid on the host plant. The black to brown to red caterpillar with orange markings comes out in the spring. They then overwinter as a pupa (Monroe and Wright 2017).
In the spring and into the summer the adult butterflies start to fly. They have a wingspan of 2.5 in (6.4 cm) to 5 in (12.7 cm) inches and are black colored with white markings.
Plants that Host the Pipevine Swallowtail
The Pipevine Swallowtail is generally hosted by members of the birthwort family (Aristolochiaceae). Note the pipevine (Isotrema macrophyllum), the namesake of the butterfly, does not occur natively in the Cedar Rapids area, and it is outside of its hardiness zone. One plant native in the Cedar Rapids, IA area that hosts this butterfly is:
- Wild Ginger (Asarum canadense): a herbaceous plant.
Giant Swallowtail (Papilo cresphontes) and its host plants in Cedar Rapids, Iowa
Giant Swallowtail (Papilio cresphontes)
The giant swallowtail flies throughout the United States and southeast Canada, except for the northwest. Beyond North America it ranges into Central America and the Caribbean Islands. It is the largest butterfly in North America (Wikipedia). It has brownish-orange eggs that are laid on the host plants. The caterpillars have five stages or instars before pupating, which takes about two weeks. The adult butterflies have a wingspans ranging from about 5.5 in (14 cm) to 7.5 in (19.1 cm) and are black and yellow colored.
Plants that Host the Giant Swallowtail
The Giant Swallowtail is hosted by members of the Rutaceae, of which there are two primary species in the Cedar Rapids area. These include:
- Common Hoptree (Ptelea trifoliata) — a small native tree
- Toothache Tree (Zanthoxylum americanum) — a small tree that is native to the area.
Eastern Tiger Swallowtail (Papilio glaucus) and its host plants in Cedar Rapids, Iowa
Eastern Tiger Swallowtail (Papilio glaucus)
The Eastern Tiger swallowtail flies in the mid-western and eastern United States from the Rocky Mountains and east. In the Eastern US it is likely one of the most distinctive swallowtails. The light green eggs are laid on the host plants. The caterpillar has five stages; with the first three a brown color and the last two as a green color. The brown chrysalis is placed in on trunks or on fallen leaves.
The adults have a wingspan of 3 in (7.6 cm) to 5.5 in (14 cm) and have two color schemes. The yellow and black is the most distinctive, but the females also have a dark black phase that mimics the pipevine swallowtail (see image). This species has up to two broods in Nebraska, one in the spring and one in the summer (Johnson 1972) and may be similar in Iowa.
Plants that Host the Eastern Tiger Swallowtail
The eastern tiger swallowtail is a generalist and uses members of a number of genera as host plants that are generally shrubs and trees. Some species in the Cedar Rapids, IA area include:
- Speckled Alder (Alnus incana): a shrub to tree
- River Birch (Betula nigra): a tree
- White Ash (Fraxinus americana): a tree
- Black Ash (Fraxinus nigra): a tree
- Green Ash (Fraxinus pennsylvanica): a tree
- Tuliptree (Liriodendron tulipifera): a tree
- Eastern Cottonwood (Populus deltoides): a tree
- Members of the Prunus genus (Cherries and Plums): shrubs and trees
- American Basswood (Tilia americana): a medium to large tree
Black Swallowtail (Papilio polyxenes) and its host plants in Cedar Rapids, Iowa
Black Swallowtail (Papilio polyxenes)
The black swallowtail flies in most of the United States, except for the Northwest. The yellow eggs are laid on the host plants and take about a week to hatch. The caterpillars are at first black colored but later have green, black, and yellow coloring and last from a week to a month. The butterflies then survive the winter as a chrysalis.
The adults have a wingspan of 2.5 in (6.4 cm) to 3.5 in (8.9 cm) and are black colored with yellow spots along the wings and a red eyepsot near the tail on the top. The underside has orange spots. This butterfly may have up to two broods in Nebraska, in May and in mid-July (Johnson 1972) and may be similar in Iowa.
Plants that Host the Black Swallowtail
The black swallowtail is a generalist and uses members of the carrot family (Apiaceae) as host plants. Some examples of carrot family members in Cedar Rapids include:
- Spreading Chervil (Chaerophyllum procumbens): a herbaceous plant
- Spotted Water Hemlock (Cicuta maculata): a herbaceous plant
- Canadian Honewort (Cryptotaenia canadensis): a herbacous plant
- Button Eryngo (Eryngium yuccifolium): a herbaceous plant
- American Cow-Parsnip (Heracleum maximum): a herbaceous plant
- Hairy Sweet-Cicely (Osmorhiza claytonii): a herbaceous plant
- Canadian Black-snakeroot (Sanicula canadensis): a herbaceous plant
- Golden Alexander (Zizia aurea): a herbaceous plant
Zebra Swallowtail (Protographium marcellus) and its host plants in Cedar Rapids, Iowa
Zebra Swallowtail (Protographium marcellus)
The zebra swallowtail flies in the mid-western and eastern United States. In the Cedar Rapids area, this butterfly is a stray from the south as the host plant is not in the area.
The green to brown eggs are laid on the leaves of the host plant, which is the pawpaw. The caterpillars have two color variations, first black and then later stages are more colorful with green and yellow stripes. The brown chrysalis can overwinter in colder climates (Wikipedia).
The black and white multi-colored adults have a wingspan of 2.5 inches (6.4 cm) to 4.5 inches (11.4 cm) and fly from February to December with a more restricted season in more northern places. They have two broods, an early season brood that can be smaller and has a shorter tail and a later summer brood that is larger and has a long tail (animaldiversity.org). In Iowa, the first brood is much more common (Insects of Iowa).
Plants that Host the Zebra Swallowtail
The zebra swallowtail uses members of the Custard Apple Family (Annonaceae) as host plants. In the Cedar Rapids area, there are no members of this family present.
Nectar Plants to Consider Putting in Your Garden
While the swallowtails need certain species of plants to use as hosts, the adults also need nectar plants to visit in order to get nourishment. Nectar plants can also help other insects such as bees. Some common nectar plants that can be grown in the Cedar Rapids, IA area include:
- Goldenrods (Solidago spp.): a genus of herbaceous plants
- Spotted Joe-Pye-Weed (Eutrochium maculatum): a herbaceous plant
- Milkweeds (Asclepias spp.) — Also benefit the Monarch Butterfly (Danaus plexippus): a genus of herbaceous plants
- Asters (Symphyotrichum spp.): a genus of herbaceous plants
- Coneflowers (Rudbeckia spp.): a herbaceous plant
- Blazing Stars (Liatris spp.): a genus of herbaceous plants
Frequently Asked Questions
How much land do I need to start a butterfly garden?
Every plant that you can grow can make a difference for visitors to your garden, especially in urban areas. Potted plants are also useful en masse for pollinators. When planting your garden, make sure you plant both the host plants and nectar plants for the adults to feed on.
Where should I get my plants?
For pollinators, it is best to have native plant species. The insects will be used to these plants more than ones from other places. Be sure you get your plants from a reputable nursery does not use neocontinids that would harm visitors to your garden.
Are there gardens near me, where I can see an example of a butterfly garden?
There is one garden somewhat near the Cedar Rapids area in Waterloo, IA that can be visited in order to get ideas for your Butterfly Garden. It is the:
Cedar Valley Arboretum and Botanical Gardens: a botanical garden with numerous gardens including a butterfly conservation meadow.
Books where you can find out more about Butterfly Gardening in the Cedar Rapids, IA Area
- Branhagen, Alan. 2020. The Midwest Native Plant Primer – 225 Plants for an Earth-Friendly Garden. Little, Brown, and Company. 256 pp.
- Daniels, Jaret C. 2023. Butterflies of the Midwest Field Guide – Butterfly Identification Guides. Adeventure Publications. 364 pp.
- Daniels, Jaret C. 2022. Garden Bugs & Insects of the Midwest – Identify Pollinators, Pests, and Other Garden Visitors – Adventure Quick Guides. 36 pp.
- Johnsgard, Paul. 2018. The Ecology of a Tallgrass Treasure: Audubon’s Spring Creek Prairie. Lulu Press. 184 pp.
- Mutel, Cornelia Fleischer. 2007. The Emerald Horizon – The History of Nature in Iowa – A Bur Oak Book. University of Iowa Press. 297 pp.
- Nauseef, Judy. 2016. Gardening with Native Plants in the Upper Midwest – Bringing the Tallgrass Prairie Home – A Bur Oak Guide. University of Iowa Press. 129 pp.
- Schlicht, Dennis W., John C. Downey, Jeffrey C. Nekola. 2007. The Butterflies of Iowa – Bur Oak Books. University of Iowa Press. 252 pp.
- Williams, Dave. 2016. The Prairie in Seed – Identifying Seed-Bearing Prairie Plants in the Upper Midwest – Bur Oak Guides. University of Iowa Press. 118 pp.
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References
- Johnson, Kurt. 1972. The Butterflies of Nebraska. Journal of Research on the Lepidoptera 11(1): 5-64.
