Swallowtails are an enormous family group of large colorful butterflies that live on all continents apart from Antarctica (what butterfly wants to live there anyway?). They get their name from the forked tail that many of the adults feature. Their other unique physical trait is the ability, as a caterpillar to emit a stinky defensive secretion.

 

Crimson rose

 

Emperor

 

Kaisar-i-Hind

 

Tiger

 

There may be as many as 600 different species divided into three main subfamilies – Parnassiinae (they live mostly in the mountains), Papilioninae (this subfamily includes some of the World’s largest from Australia – the birdwings) and Baroniinae (mostly from Mexico).

 

Birdwings

 

Black swallowtail caterpillar

 

Many species have the word “swallowtail“ in their names such as the common yellow, the giant, tiger, crimson, scarlet, black, emperor, zebra, spicebrush, etc.

 

Scarlet

 

Tiger

 

Apollo

 

Zebra