Cattleheart, Parides sp.
This type of swallowtail butterfly is native to Mexico and South America. The males and females look slightly different but both sport pink and yellow-green patches on a black background. The caterpillars feed on pipevine which is a poisonous plant; the larvae store the toxins in the body for protection, and the adults are also distasteful to predators. The name “cattleheart” is thought to be due to the pinkish marking on the hind wing which can resemble a cow’s heart.
