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 433 - 456 of 4507 verified sightings
Observation date: Apr 16, 2005
Submitted by: Tom Dudones
Region: Maricopa County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: CA Ivy
Verified date: Oct 09, 2020
Observation date: Jul 27, 2020
Submitted by: sarahbfoot
Region: Dunn County, Wisconsin, United States
Verified by: Tom Middagh
Verified date: Oct 04, 2020
Observation date: Aug 13, 2020
Submitted by: Joanna Griffith
Region: Jackson County, Georgia, United States
Verified by: Mikelchap
Verified date: Oct 03, 2020
Observation date: Sep 19, 2020
Submitted by: JRoper
Region: Gwinnett County, Georgia, United States
Verified by: Mikelchap
Verified date: Sep 21, 2020
Observation date: Aug 01, 2020
Submitted by: loyallonghorn
Region: Fort Bend County, Texas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Sep 16, 2020
Observation date: Sep 15, 2020
Submitted by: Jeff Trahan
Region: Tensas Parish, Louisiana, United States
Verified by: CA Ivy
Verified date: Sep 15, 2020
Observation date: Sep 10, 2020
Submitted by: ncrosbyrd
Region: Nassau County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Sep 13, 2020
Observation date: Jul 23, 2020
Submitted by: JudyLY
Region: Doña Ana County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Sep 12, 2020
Observation date: Sep 11, 2020
Submitted by: Diane R Halpin
Region: Marion County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Sep 11, 2020
Observation date: Aug 20, 2020
Submitted by: Babo
Region: Osage County, Oklahoma, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Sep 09, 2020
Observation date: Aug 31, 2020
Submitted by: Diane P. Brooks
Region: Perry County, Ohio, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Sep 06, 2020
Observation date: Aug 20, 2020
Submitted by: Diane P. Brooks
Region: Perry County, Ohio, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Sep 06, 2020
Observation date: Aug 06, 2017
Submitted by: BarbSendelbach
Region: Warren County, New Jersey, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Aug 28, 2020
Observation date: Jul 26, 2020
Submitted by: spmaestro
Region: Gillespie County, Texas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Aug 28, 2020
Observation date: Aug 23, 2020
Submitted by: Dallasyork97
Region: Chattooga County, Georgia, United States
Verified by: Mikelchap
Verified date: Aug 24, 2020
Observation date: Aug 15, 2020
Submitted by: Stephen G.
Region: Benton County, Arkansas, United States
Verified by: Stephen G.
Verified date: Aug 23, 2020
Observation date: Aug 22, 2020
Submitted by: Tom Wiseman
Region: Champaign County, Illinois, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Aug 23, 2020
Observation date: Aug 22, 2020
Submitted by: 18Bronwen
Region: Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Aug 22, 2020
Observation date: Aug 05, 2020
Submitted by: ButterBelle
Region: Putnam County, Tennessee, United States
Verified by: dbruce
Verified date: Aug 22, 2020
Observation date: Aug 10, 2020
Submitted by: dellagnese
Region: Davidson County, Tennessee, United States
Verified by: dbruce
Verified date: Aug 22, 2020
Observation date: Aug 16, 2020
Submitted by: Made in the sha...
Region: Marshall County, Tennessee, United States
Verified by: dbruce
Verified date: Aug 22, 2020
Observation date: Aug 07, 2020
Submitted by: sbcsmith-rickboeth
Region: Franklin County, Tennessee, United States
Verified by: dbruce
Verified date: Aug 22, 2020
Observation date: Aug 19, 2020
Submitted by: treys grammy
Region: Benton County, Arkansas, United States
Verified by: CA Ivy
Verified date: Aug 19, 2020
Observation date: Aug 18, 2020
Submitted by: treys grammy
Region: Benton County, Arkansas, United States
Verified by: CA Ivy
Verified date: Aug 19, 2020
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