The larvae typically feed on only one family of trees, but closely related species will feed on distantly related plants; for example different members of the genus Datana feed on Juglandaceae, Hamamelidaceae, Ericaceae and Anacardiaceae (Miller 1992).
The osmeterium is a fleshy organ found in the prothoracic segment of larvae (caterpillars) of Swallowtail butterflies including Birdwings and the '-prominent (Notodontidae) moths.