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 361 - 384 of 4507 verified sightings
Observation date: Jun 06, 2021
Submitted by: nfergusson
Region: Hillsborough County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Jun 09, 2021
Observation date: Jun 04, 2021
Submitted by: Mayaich17
Region: Faulkner County, Arkansas, United States
Verified by: CA Ivy
Verified date: Jun 05, 2021
Observation date: Jul 15, 2017
Submitted by: chherrmann
Region: Texas, Travis County, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Jun 03, 2021
Observation date: Apr 30, 2021
Submitted by: RoxannaTessman
Region: Cochise County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: John Saba
Verified date: May 27, 2021
Observation date: May 10, 2021
Submitted by: guy_incognito
Region: Bandera County, Texas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: May 27, 2021
Observation date: May 05, 2021
Submitted by: Mapper
Region: Johnson County, Illinois, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: May 07, 2021
Observation date: Apr 23, 2021
Submitted by: LindaCloud
Region: Yolo County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: May 04, 2021
Observation date: Mar 13, 2021
Submitted by: DVL
Region: Collier County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Apr 28, 2021
Observation date: Apr 11, 2021
Submitted by: KathleenTibbitts
Region: Paulding County, Georgia, United States
Verified by: Mikelchap
Verified date: Apr 21, 2021
Observation date: Apr 01, 2021
Submitted by: D Grimes
Region: Hernando County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Apr 17, 2021
Observation date: Apr 07, 2021
Submitted by: CBB
Region: Alameda County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Apr 11, 2021
Observation date: Mar 29, 2021
Submitted by: Karen Richardson
Region: Yolo County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Mar 30, 2021
Observation date: Jul 08, 2020
Submitted by: sarahbfoot
Region: Dunn County, Wisconsin, United States
Verified by: Tom Middagh
Verified date: Feb 27, 2021
Observation date: Jul 15, 2015
Submitted by: Debo Boddiford
Region: Allendale County, South Carolina, United States
Verified by: Dennis Forsythe
Verified date: Feb 27, 2021
Observation date: Jul 15, 2008
Submitted by: Wade Wander
Region: Sussex County, New Jersey, United States
Verified by: Jack Connor
Verified date: Feb 17, 2021
Observation date: Aug 08, 2008
Submitted by: Serenity
Region: Tangipahoa Parish, Louisiana, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Feb 17, 2021
Observation date: Mar 23, 2019
Submitted by: Debo Boddiford
Region: Hampton County, South Carolina, United States
Verified by: Dennis Forsythe
Verified date: Feb 14, 2021
Observation date: Feb 05, 2021
Submitted by: Lovering
Region: Texas, Travis County, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Feb 09, 2021
Observation date: Sep 09, 2020
Submitted by: ButterflyMistress
Region: Sonoma County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jan 23, 2021
Observation date: May 08, 2017
Submitted by: KLHelton
Region: Fairfax County, Virginia, United States
Verified by: drerbium
Verified date: Jan 10, 2021
Observation date: May 31, 2017
Submitted by: KenL
Region: James City County, Virginia, United States
Verified by: drerbium
Verified date: Jan 10, 2021
Observation date: Jun 01, 2017
Submitted by: EddieGarrity
Region: Alexandria, Virginia, United States
Verified by: drerbium
Verified date: Jan 10, 2021
Observation date: Jul 11, 2017
Submitted by: Gaffneyvk
Region: Prince William County, Virginia, United States
Verified by: drerbium
Verified date: Jan 09, 2021
Observation date: Jun 23, 2017
Submitted by: c4c
Region: Bedford County, Virginia, United States
Verified by: drerbium
Verified date: Jan 09, 2021
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