BUTTERFLIES AND THEIR HOST PLANTS (caterpillar food) Here are a few common Manitoba butterflies and some their host plants (caterpillar food). [Common and scientific names are as in The Butterflies of Manitoba; spp. = several species within the same genus.] Butterflies Host Plants Tiger Swallowtail (Papilio canadensis) Birches ( Betula ssp. ), Aspens (Populus spp. ) Black Swallowtail (Papilio polyxenes) Alexanders (Zizia spp.) Western Checkered White (Pontia accidentalis) Cruciferans (mustard family) Cabbage White (Pieris rapae) Cruciferans, nasturtiums Common Sulphur (Colias philodice) Legumes (pea family), clover, vetch, alfalfa Alfalfa Butterfly (Colias eurytheme) Legumes, clover, vetch, alfalfa Western Tailed Blue (Everes amyntula) Legumes, clover, wild pea (Astragalus spp.) Silvery Blue (Glaucopsyche lygdamus) Legumes, wild pea, milk-vetch (Astragalus spp.) Variegated Fritillary (Euptoieta claudia) Violets, (Viola spp.), Pansies Aphrodite Fritillary (Speyeria aphrodite) Violets (Viola spp.) Gorgone Checkerspot (Chlosyne gorgone) Composites, sunflowers (Helianthus spp.) Pearl Crescent (Phycoides tharos) Asters (Aster spp.) American Painted Lady (Vanessa virginiensis) Composites, burdocks, everlastings (Antennaria spp.) Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui) Composites, thistles, sunflowers (Helianthus spp.) Red Admiral (Vanessa atalanta) Nettles (Urtica spp.) Viceroy (Limenitis archippus) Willows (Salix spp.), poplars (Populus spp.) Mourning Cloak (Nymphalis antiopa) Willows (Salix spp.), poplars (Populus spp.) Monarch (Danaus plexippus) Milkweeds (Asclepias spp.)