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 337 - 360 of 4507 verified sightings
Observation date: Sep 11, 2021
Submitted by: Kzfisherman
Region: Lake County, Illinois, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Sep 13, 2021
Observation date: Sep 11, 2021
Submitted by: elkeno
Region: New York County, New York, United States
Verified by: rosslayberry
Verified date: Sep 13, 2021
Observation date: Sep 10, 2021
Submitted by: Mapper
Region: Pope County, Illinois, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Sep 12, 2021
Observation date: Sep 06, 2021
Submitted by: jmgesell
Region: Northampton County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: davidwright
Verified date: Sep 07, 2021
Observation date: Sep 04, 2021
Submitted by: maryjanzen
Region: Centre County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: davidwright
Verified date: Sep 06, 2021
Observation date: Sep 04, 2021
Submitted by: guy_incognito
Region: San Bernardino County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Sep 04, 2021
Observation date: Jun 29, 2021
Submitted by: justkim1106
Region: Texas, Uvalde County, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Aug 31, 2021
Observation date: Aug 25, 2021
Submitted by: RLS
Region: Craighead County, Arkansas, United States
Verified by: CA Ivy
Verified date: Aug 25, 2021
Observation date: Aug 18, 2021
Submitted by: lilkriskattn
Region: Texas, Montague County, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Aug 23, 2021
Observation date: Aug 09, 2021
Submitted by: lilkriskattn
Region: Texas, Montague County, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Aug 14, 2021
Observation date: Aug 10, 2021
Submitted by: systanfield
Region: Richland County, South Carolina, United States
Verified by: Dennis Forsythe
Verified date: Aug 12, 2021
Observation date: Aug 10, 2021
Submitted by: KShell
Region: Dixie County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Aug 10, 2021
Observation date: Aug 05, 2021
Submitted by: LaurieT
Region: Cochise County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: John Saba
Verified date: Aug 07, 2021
Observation date: Jul 06, 2021
Submitted by: Cactuswren1976
Region: Jeff Davis County, Texas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Aug 05, 2021
Observation date: Jul 07, 2021
Submitted by: dineja321
Region: Adams County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: davidwright
Verified date: Jul 12, 2021
Observation date: Jun 28, 2021
Submitted by: dineja321
Region: Adams County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: davidwright
Verified date: Jul 12, 2021
Observation date: Aug 18, 2020
Submitted by: michellelynn1982
Region: Orange County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Jul 11, 2021
Observation date: Jul 05, 2021
Submitted by: LauraSea
Region: Nassau County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Jul 10, 2021
Observation date: Jun 25, 2021
Submitted by: JudyLY
Region: Doña Ana County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Jun 29, 2021
Observation date: Jun 22, 2021
Submitted by: D Grimes
Region: Hernando County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Jun 26, 2021
Observation date: Jun 15, 2021
Submitted by: Robert Schoenberg
Region: Harris County, Texas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Jun 26, 2021
Observation date: Jun 21, 2021
Submitted by: Mayaich17
Region: Faulkner County, Arkansas, United States
Verified by: CA Ivy
Verified date: Jun 22, 2021
Observation date: Jun 14, 2021
Submitted by: Cactuswren1976
Region: Santa Fe County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Jun 14, 2021
Observation date: Jun 08, 2021
Submitted by: pkondrashov
Region: Adair County, Missouri, United States
Verified by: CA Ivy
Verified date: Jun 10, 2021
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