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 481 - 504 of 4507 verified sightings
Observation date: Jul 05, 2020
Submitted by: aer11
Region: Texas, Travis County, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Jul 06, 2020
Observation date: Jul 03, 2020
Submitted by: Cyrus Li
Region: Giles County, Virginia, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Jul 04, 2020
Observation date: Jul 02, 2020
Submitted by: ncrosbyrd
Region: McIntosh County, Georgia, United States
Verified by: Mikelchap
Verified date: Jul 03, 2020
Observation date: Jun 28, 2020
Submitted by: Cyrus Li
Region: Montgomery County, Virginia, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Jul 01, 2020
Observation date: Jun 06, 2020
Submitted by: DannyboyKS
Region: Pima County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: John Saba
Verified date: Jun 28, 2020
Observation date: Oct 04, 2019
Submitted by: billd
Region: Garfield County, Oklahoma, United States
Verified by: CA Ivy
Verified date: Jun 26, 2020
Observation date: Jun 22, 2020
Submitted by: farmgirl478
Region: Hancock County, Georgia, United States
Verified by: Mikelchap
Verified date: Jun 24, 2020
Observation date: Jul 26, 2019
Submitted by: Shawnann74
Region: Oldham County, Kentucky, United States
Verified by: BGilley
Verified date: Jun 23, 2020
Observation date: Jul 29, 2019
Submitted by: reupurtbones
Region: Warren County, Kentucky, United States
Verified by: BGilley
Verified date: Jun 23, 2020
Observation date: Jul 24, 2019
Submitted by: V Miller
Region: Fayette County, Kentucky, United States
Verified by: BGilley
Verified date: Jun 23, 2020
Observation date: Aug 01, 2019
Submitted by: roseanna
Region: McCreary County, Kentucky, United States
Verified by: BGilley
Verified date: Jun 23, 2020
Observation date: Oct 02, 2019
Submitted by: billd
Region: Garfield County, Oklahoma, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Jun 23, 2020
Observation date: Sep 29, 2019
Submitted by: billd
Region: Garfield County, Oklahoma, United States
Verified by: CA Ivy
Verified date: Jun 22, 2020
Observation date: Jun 17, 2020
Submitted by: Honu Green
Region: Pima County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: John Saba
Verified date: Jun 19, 2020
Observation date: May 08, 2020
Submitted by: Eric Wood
Region: Boone County, Missouri, United States
Verified by: CA Ivy
Verified date: Jun 17, 2020
Observation date: Apr 01, 2020
Submitted by: Jennifer7
Region: Contra Costa County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jun 14, 2020
Observation date: Sep 21, 2019
Submitted by: billd
Region: Garfield County, Oklahoma, United States
Verified by: CA Ivy
Verified date: Jun 14, 2020
Observation date: Sep 21, 2019
Submitted by: billd
Region: Garfield County, Oklahoma, United States
Verified by: CA Ivy
Verified date: Jun 14, 2020
Observation date: Sep 21, 2019
Submitted by: billd
Region: Garfield County, Oklahoma, United States
Verified by: CA Ivy
Verified date: Jun 14, 2020
Observation date: Sep 21, 2019
Submitted by: billd
Region: Garfield County, Oklahoma, United States
Verified by: CA Ivy
Verified date: Jun 14, 2020
Observation date: May 26, 2020
Submitted by: Jay Brasher
Region: Lincoln County, Tennessee, United States
Verified by: dbruce
Verified date: Jun 04, 2020
Observation date: May 30, 2020
Submitted by: Jonathan Clark
Region: Grant Parish, Louisiana, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Jun 02, 2020
Observation date: May 24, 2014
Submitted by: mouser
Region: Eddy County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Jun 01, 2020
Observation date: May 30, 2020
Submitted by: calidris
Region: Cochise County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: John Saba
Verified date: Jun 01, 2020
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