Swallowtail Caterpillar
Host Plants of India and Asia

This Swallowtail caterpillar host plants page contains about half of the list of butterflies of India.

With Indian terrain being so diverse between climates of hot and cold along with different types of vegetation, many butterflies are highly visible - others are not.

There are over eighty butterfly types of this family in India. Many of them are also common Asian butterflies. This list gives you an idea of what is the Swallowtail caterpillar prefers to dine on throughout these regions.

Also a note about climbers... they climb.. a lot! Depending on the species they can become invasive. You can successfully keep them on the outskirts of the yard where they will climb the trees.

If you want climbers closer to your house be particular. In time the structure holding the climbers can break down, weather and possibly deteriorate the wood or brick supporting it.

Other pages talked about Dutchman's Pipe as climbers, also called 'Small Creepers'. The above paragraph is also noting Napenthes species, or 'Pitcher Plant'.

To view Host Plants for Butterflies for All butterfly families click here

Butterflies are in alphabetical order. My goal is to help those who are learning so there is redundancy to this list of Swallowtail caterpillar host plants.

1) Bhutan Glory

Aristolochia family (Dutchman's Pipe) especially A. Griffithii, A. Kaempferii, A. Mandshuriensis

2) Blue Mormon

Ruaceae including Atalantia Racemosa, Glycosmis Arborea, Paramigyna Monophylia
Rutaceae Citrus including Atalantia Wightii, Citrus Grandis, Citrus Limon, Pomelo Citrus Maxima

3) Common Birdwing

Aristolochia family (Dutchman's Pipe) including A. Indica, A. Tagala (Indian Birthwort)
Bragantia Wallichi

4) Common Blue Bottle

Cinnamon family including C.Verum, Cinnamon Vine
Chisese Yam
Dioscorea Batatas
Laurel family (Persea Borbonia) of aromatic trees including Florida Mahogany, Red Bay, Shorebay
Coffee (Polyscias Guilfoylei)
Sugar Cane trees (Saccharum)
Tobacco (Nicotiana)

5) Common Clubtail

Apama Tomentosa

6) Common Jay

Annona Lawii
Champaka (Michelia Champaca)
Cinnamomum Macrocarpum
Custard Apple family (Annonaceae) including Soursop
Laurel family (Lauraceae)
Liriodendroidae including Tulip tree
Magnoliaceae family including:

      Magnolioideae (Magnolia)
      Magnolia Grandiflora (Southern Magnolia, Bull Bay)
      Michelia Champaca
Milliusa Tomentosum
Polyalthia Longifolia family including False Ashoka, Green Champa, Indian Mast tree

7) Common Mime

Alseodaphne Semicarpifolia
Avocado tree (Persea Americana)
Cinnamonum fmily including Camphora (Camphor tree), Macrocarpum
Laurel family of aromatic evergreens including Bay, Blue Spruce, Hemlock, Jack Pine
Lauraceae family including Litsea Chinensis, Litsea Deccansis
Red Cedar
Sassafras
Spicebush/Spice Bush (Lindera Benzoin)
Tetranthera Apetala (Litsea Glutinosa)

8) Common Mormon

Aegle Marmelos
Atalantia Racemosa
Curry tree (Murraya Koenigii)
Glycosmis Arborea
Murraya Paniculata
Rutaceae includingt Bael (Aegle Marmelos)
Rutaceae Citrus including C. Aurantifolia, C. Grandis, C. Limon, C. Medica, C. Sinensis
Tripahsia sp.
Zanthoxylum Rhetsa (Rutaceae)

9) Common Rose

Aristolochia family (Dutchman's Pipe) especially A. Bracteolata, A. Griffithii, A. Indica, A. Siliquosa, A. Tagala

10) Common Windmill

Aristolochia family (Dutchman's Pipe) especially A. Griffithii, A. Shimadai
Napentheceae family (Napenthes sp.) especially Monkey Cupes (Tropical Pitcher Plants)

11) Crimson Rose

Adathoda Zeylonica including Malabarnut, Vasaka
Albizzia Lebbeck
Anacardium Occindentale (Cashew)
Antigonon Leptopus (Coral Vine)
Bougainvillea Spectabilis (Red, Purple, etc.. )
Ceasalpinia Pulcherrima family including:

      Dwarf PoincianaFlamboyan-de-Jardin
      Peacock flower
      Poinciana
      Pride of BarbadosRed
      Bird of Paradise
Capparis Spinosa (Nummularia) Caper Bush ssp. caper
Citheroxylum Subserratum (Roseus)
Clerodendrum Infortunatum
Dogbane family including Carissa Carandus, Catharanthus Roseus
Duranta Repens family including:

      Golden Dewdrop
      Pegion Berry
      Sweet Memories
Hibiscus Rosa (Malvaceae) including China Rose, Shoe Flower
Hyptis Suaveolens (Pignut)
Jasminum Angustifolium (Wild Jasmine)
Lantana Camara including Spanish Flag, West Indian Lantana
Muntingia Calabura (The Jamaica Cherry)
Nerium Odorum (Oleander)
Premna Latifolia (Verbenaceae/Verbena family)
Sida Acuta (Common Wireweed)
Sida Cordifolia family including:

      Bala
      Country Mallow
      Flannel Weed
      Heart-Leaf Sida
Stachytarpheta Indica including Indian Snakeweed, Nettle-Leaved Vervain
Wrightia Tinctoria including Pala Indigo, Dyer's Oleander
Zizyphus Oenoplia (Rhamnaceae family)

12) Five-Bar Swordtail

Annonaceae family including A. Elegance, A. Lawii, A. Zeylanica, Soursop, Uvaria sp.
Miliusa

13) Great Mormon

Rutaceae family including Paramignya Scandens
Rutaceae Citrus including Fortunella ssp.

14) Great Windmill

Aristolochia family (Dutchman's Pipe) especially A. Griffithii

15) Green Dragontail

Illigera Burmanica

16) Kaiser-e-Hind

Magnoliaceae family especially Magnolis Campbeli
- Kaiser-e-Hind literally translates to 'Emperor of India'.

17) Krishna Peacock

Rutaceae Citrus including Grapefruit, Lemon, Lime, Orange
Rutaceae including Evodia Fraxinifolia, Zanthoxylum spp.

18) Lesser Mime Swallowtail

Cinnamomum Camphora (Camphor) Camphor tree
Persea Thunbergi (Litsea Coreana)

19) Lime Swallowtail Butterfly

Aegle Marmelos including Bael
Chloroxyon Swietenia including Buruta, East Indian, Satinwood-Ceylon
Glycosmis Arborea (Rutaceae)
Murraya Koenigii (Curry tree)
Ruta Graveolens including Common Rue, Herb-of-Grace
Rutaceae Citrus including Citrus Grandis, Citrus Limon, Citrus Sinensis
The Lime Butterfly is sometimes called The
Lemon Butterfly.

20) Malabar Banded Swallowtail

Rutaceae Citrus including Grapefruit, Lemon, Lime, Orange
Rutaceae including Acronychia Pedunculata, Evodia Roxburghiana

21) Malabar Banded Peacock Swallowtail

Rutaceae including Zanthoxylum Rhetsa

22) Malabar Raven Swallowtail

Rutaceae Citrus including Grapefruit, Lemon, Lime, Orange
Rutaceae including Glycosmis Arborea, Glycosmis Pentaphylla

23) Malabar Rose Swallowtail

Aristolochiaceae including Thottea Siliquosa

24) Paris Peacock

Rutaceae Citrus including Grapefruit, Lemon, Lime, Orange
Rutaceae including Evodia Roxburghiana, Toddalia Asiatica
Rutaceae including Zanthoxylum Ovalifolium (Little Yellowood)

25) Red Helen

Clausena Heptaphylla
Glycosmis family including Pentaphylla, Arborea
Phellodendron including Philodendron spp.
Rutaceae Citrus including Citrus Limon, Citrus Orange, Citrus Pummelo
Rutaceae including Evodia spp.
Rutaceae including Toddalia Asiatica, Zanthoxylum Acanthopodium, Zanthoxylum Nitidum, Zanthoxylum Rhetsa

26) Rose Windmill

Napentheceae family (Napenthes sp.) expecially Monkey Cups (Tropical Pitcher Plants)

27) Scarce Swallowtail

Blackthorn Bush, also called Sloe (Prunus Spinosa, Rosaceae)

*Can also be called Sail Swallowtail and Pear-Tree Swallowtail

*The Scarce Swallowtail can also be found in Europe. Click here for Swallowtail caterpillar host plants in this region.

28) Sixbar Swordtail

Lauraceae (Laurel) family especially Machilus Odoratissimus, or Machilus

29) Southern Birdwing

Aristolochia family (Dutchman's Pipe) especially A. Indica, A. Tagala (Indian Birthwort)
Thottea Siliquosa

30) Spectacle Swordtail

Lauraceae (Laurel) family especially Machilus Odoratissimus, or Michilus

31) Spot Swordtail

Custard Apple family (Annonaceae)
Miliusa Tomentosum
Miliusa Velutina
Polyalthia Longifolia family including False Ashoka, Green Champa, Indian Mast tree

32) Tailed Jay

Annona Discolor
Annona Muricata (Custard Apple) including Soursop
Annona Reticulata (Custard Apple)
Annona Squamosa (Sugar-Apple tree)
Cinnamomum sp.
Gonionthalamus Cardiopetalus (Annonaceae)
Michelia family including M. Champaca, M. Doltospa
Milliusa Tomentosum
Mitrephora Heyneana (Annonaceae)
Polyalthia Cerasoides (Annonaceae)
Polyalthia Longifolia family including False Ashoka, Green Champa, Indian Mast tree
Ylang-Ylang Vine (Artabotrys Hexapetalus)