Pipevine Swallowtail
Battus philenor (Linnaeus, 1771)
Family: Papilionidae
Subfamily: Papilioninae
Identification: Upper surface of hindwing iridescent blue or blue-green. Underside of hindwing with submarginal row of 7 round orange spots in iridescent blue field.
Wing Span: 2 3/4 - 5 inches (7 - 13 cm).
Life History: Adult males patrol likely habitat in search of receptive females. Females lay batches of eggs on underside of host plant leaves. Caterpillars feed in small groups when young but become solitary when older. Wintering is by the chrysalis.
Flight: In the East and California, adults fly primarily in late spring (though as early as late February or March) and summer, but the butterfly is commoner in late summer and fall in the South and Southwest. Where lack of freezing temperatures permit, adults ma
Caterpillar Hosts: Pipevines (Aristolochia species), including Aristolochia californica, A. serpentaria and others.
Adult Food: Solely nectar from flowers including thistles (Cirsium species), bergamot, lilac, viper's bugloss, common azaleas, phlox, teasel, azaleas, dame's-rocket, lantana, petunias, verbenas, lupines, yellow star thistle, California buckeye, yerba santa, brodiaeas, and gilias.
Habitat: A wide variety of open habitats, open woodland, and woodland edges.
Range: Rare stray to Canada (s. Manitoba). Tropical lowlands south to southern Mexico.
Conservation: Normally not of high conservation concern, although states at northern limits have listed under state law. These listings are of dubious value where species is not a permanent resident.
NCGR: G5 - Demonstrably secure globally, though it may be quite rare in parts of its range, especially at the periphery.
Management Needs: Management of habitats to ensure survival of host plant colonies is the only possible concern.
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Verified Sightings
Displaying 25 - 48 of 4502 verified sightings
Observation date: Oct 04, 2025
Submitted by: Ivyrk87
Region: Collin County, Texas, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Oct 04, 2025
Observation date: Sep 29, 2025
Submitted by: Lisahug
Region: Contra Costa County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Oct 02, 2025
Observation date: Sep 20, 2025
Submitted by: jmgesell
Region: Northampton County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: davidwright
Verified date: Sep 22, 2025
Observation date: Apr 10, 2025
Submitted by: Hill.joshuab
Region: Texas, Travis County, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Sep 10, 2025
Observation date: May 24, 2025
Submitted by: starmans
Region: Texas, Travis County, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Sep 10, 2025
Observation date: Jul 04, 2025
Submitted by: hsmarshall
Region: Warren County, Mississippi, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Sep 10, 2025
Observation date: Sep 09, 2025
Submitted by: Dennis Forsythe (Donna Forsythe)
Region: Charleston County, South Carolina, United States
Verified by: Dennis Forsythe
Verified date: Sep 10, 2025
Observation date: Aug 26, 2025
Submitted by: JHH241
Region: Cherokee County, North Carolina, United States
Verified by: Dennis Forsythe
Verified date: Sep 04, 2025
Observation date: Sep 01, 2025
Submitted by: Melinda Bell
Region: Sumner County, Tennessee, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Sep 02, 2025
Observation date: Aug 27, 2025
Submitted by: tiki33wv
Region: Pocahontas County, West Virginia, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Aug 30, 2025
Observation date: Aug 25, 2025
Submitted by: gjkoppel
Region: Butler County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: davidwright
Verified date: Aug 26, 2025
Observation date: Aug 24, 2025
Submitted by: ButterflymothAR
Region: Ouachita County, Arkansas, United States
Verified by: CA Ivy
Verified date: Aug 24, 2025
Observation date: Aug 17, 2025
Submitted by: Doug DeNeve
Region: Forsyth County, North Carolina, United States
Verified by: Dennis Forsythe
Verified date: Aug 19, 2025
Observation date: Aug 16, 2025
Submitted by: Sour Rose
Region: Cabell County, West Virginia, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Aug 16, 2025
Observation date: Jul 16, 2025
Submitted by: Lydiaak
Region: Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: davidwright
Verified date: Aug 03, 2025
Observation date: Jul 28, 2025
Submitted by: hockeybruce7
Region: Monroe County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: davidwright
Verified date: Aug 03, 2025
Observation date: Aug 19, 2022
Submitted by: acb22
Region: Sangamon County, Illinois, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Jul 26, 2025
Observation date: Jul 22, 2025
Submitted by: Steven Wilson
Region: Webster County, West Virginia, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Jul 22, 2025
Observation date: Jul 16, 2025
Submitted by: Ennis_delmar
Region: Sevier County, Tennessee, United States
Verified by: James Steen
Verified date: Jul 16, 2025
Observation date: May 26, 2023
Submitted by: Rob Williams
Region: Leon County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Jul 14, 2025
Observation date: Jul 13, 2025
Submitted by: Claire.Shoun@gm...
Region: Unicoi County, Tennessee, United States
Verified by: James Steen
Verified date: Jul 14, 2025
Observation date: Mar 27, 2023
Submitted by: Rob Williams
Region: Leon County, Florida, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Jul 12, 2025
Observation date: Jul 15, 2023
Submitted by: beverlynantz
Region: Harlan County, Kentucky, United States
Verified by: CA Ivy
Verified date: Jul 10, 2025
Observation date: Jun 27, 2025
Submitted by: Martin Neil UK
Region: Cape Girardeau County, Missouri, United States
Verified by: CA Ivy
Verified date: Jul 10, 2025
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