Papilio machaon bairdii

Baird's Swallowtail

In California this much sought-after swallowtail is found only in the San Bernardino mountains, and does not appear to be doing well there lately. With good rains, it can have several broods in a year, but the long-term trend is definitely towards dryer years. Bairdii uses a host that is common enough: wild tarragon (Artemisia dracunculus), and it can be reared on anise or fennel. In good years, this butterfly can fly in two broods, from as early as April to as late as September. Females place eggs singly on the leaves of the wild tarragon, and larvae feed straight through to pupation, the overwintering stage.