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 289 - 312 of 4507 verified sightings
Observation date: May 20, 2019
Submitted by: reupurtbones
Region: Warren County, Kentucky, United States
Verified by: CA Ivy
Verified date: Jan 03, 2022
Observation date: Jul 06, 2020
Submitted by: Ginnell
Region: Edmonson County, Kentucky, United States
Verified by: CA Ivy
Verified date: Jan 01, 2022
Observation date: Jul 03, 2021
Submitted by: ncrosbyrd
Region: Harlan County, Kentucky, United States
Verified by: CA Ivy
Verified date: Jan 01, 2022
Observation date: Sep 22, 2013
Submitted by: RStankiewicz
Region: Mohave County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: John Saba
Verified date: Dec 31, 2021
Observation date: Oct 01, 2021
Submitted by: jamesvonloh
Region: Doña Ana County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Dec 22, 2021
Observation date: Nov 12, 2021
Submitted by: JudyLY
Region: Fayette County, Texas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Nov 22, 2021
Observation date: Jul 14, 2020
Submitted by: Gordon Berman
Region: Doña Ana County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Nov 20, 2021
Observation date: Jun 02, 2019
Submitted by: KrazyK
Region: Suffolk County, New York, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Nov 16, 2021
Observation date: Jul 20, 2014
Submitted by: dlb1117
Region: Forrest County, Mississippi, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Nov 11, 2021
Observation date: Nov 07, 2021
Submitted by: KD5NRH
Region: Texas, Parker County, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Nov 11, 2021
Observation date: Jul 15, 2017
Submitted by: Col
Region: New Castle County, Delaware, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Nov 06, 2021
Observation date: May 05, 2012
Submitted by: Bruce Bolin
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: rosslayberry
Verified date: Nov 04, 2021
Observation date: Aug 09, 2019
Submitted by: Bruce Bolin
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: rosslayberry
Verified date: Nov 04, 2021
Observation date: Sep 04, 2019
Submitted by: Bruce Bolin
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: rosslayberry
Verified date: Nov 04, 2021
Observation date: Sep 12, 2020
Submitted by: Bruce Bolin
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: rosslayberry
Verified date: Nov 04, 2021
Observation date: Jul 19, 2021
Submitted by: Bruce Bolin
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: rosslayberry
Verified date: Nov 04, 2021
Observation date: Jul 25, 2021
Submitted by: Bruce Bolin
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: rosslayberry
Verified date: Nov 04, 2021
Observation date: Jul 31, 2021
Submitted by: Bruce Bolin
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: rosslayberry
Verified date: Nov 04, 2021
Observation date: Aug 04, 2021
Submitted by: Bruce Bolin
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: rosslayberry
Verified date: Nov 04, 2021
Observation date: Aug 06, 2021
Submitted by: Bruce Bolin
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: rosslayberry
Verified date: Nov 04, 2021
Observation date: Aug 07, 2021
Submitted by: Bruce Bolin
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: rosslayberry
Verified date: Nov 04, 2021
Observation date: Aug 16, 2021
Submitted by: Bruce Bolin
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: rosslayberry
Verified date: Nov 04, 2021
Observation date: Aug 30, 2021
Submitted by: Bruce Bolin
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: rosslayberry
Verified date: Nov 04, 2021
Observation date: Sep 16, 2021
Submitted by: Bruce Bolin
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: rosslayberry
Verified date: Nov 04, 2021
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