Anise Swallowtail Butterfly

The anise swallowtail butterfly can be found near its favorite food plants in gardens and on hilltops in the upper parts of the Temescal Creek Watershed. Its primary food sources are members of the carrot family, fennels, and some plants in the citrus family. It has adapted to using fennel as its host plant in the San Francisco Bay Area since its native host, Lomatium, is now harder to find. As a result, these butterflies are helping to reduce this invasive plant population.