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 505 - 528 of 4507 verified sightings
Observation date: Jun 23, 2012
Submitted by: cattailsandcobwebs
Region: Adams County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: davidwright
Verified date: Jun 01, 2020
Observation date: May 24, 2020
Submitted by: Debo Boddiford
Region: Georgia, Screven County, United States
Verified by: Mikelchap
Verified date: May 28, 2020
Observation date: May 24, 2020
Submitted by: Cameala
Region: Juniata County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: davidwright
Verified date: May 27, 2020
Observation date: Jun 12, 2008
Submitted by: Todd Fischer
Region: Greene County, Tennessee, United States
Verified by: dbruce
Verified date: May 26, 2020
Observation date: May 10, 2020
Submitted by: cosmic_cat
Region: Anderson County, Texas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: May 24, 2020
Observation date: May 16, 2020
Submitted by: Jeff Trahan
Region: Grant Parish, Louisiana, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: May 24, 2020
Observation date: May 23, 2020
Submitted by: Momallinson
Region: El Dorado County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: May 24, 2020
Observation date: May 16, 2020
Submitted by: Dennis Forsythe
Region: Berkeley County, South Carolina, United States
Verified by: Dennis Forsythe
Verified date: May 17, 2020
Observation date: May 15, 2020
Submitted by: ezettler
Region: Alachua County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: May 15, 2020
Observation date: May 05, 2020
Submitted by: BernieM
Region: Texas, Travis County, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: May 13, 2020
Observation date: May 07, 2020
Submitted by: Jeff Trahan
Region: Grant Parish, Louisiana, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: May 11, 2020
Observation date: May 07, 2020
Submitted by: Jeff Trahan
Region: Grant Parish, Louisiana, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: May 11, 2020
Observation date: May 05, 2020
Submitted by: BernieM
Region: Texas, Travis County, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: May 11, 2020
Observation date: Apr 20, 2020
Submitted by: Ambersilk61
Region: Pope County, Arkansas, United States
Verified by: CA Ivy
Verified date: May 09, 2020
Observation date: May 01, 2020
Submitted by: Carol Shearly
Region: Yolo County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: May 08, 2020
Observation date: May 02, 2020
Submitted by: Kbossong
Region: Gallia County, Ohio, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: May 03, 2020
Observation date: Apr 25, 2020
Submitted by: ncrosbyrd
Region: McIntosh County, Georgia, United States
Verified by: Mikelchap
Verified date: May 01, 2020
Observation date: Apr 21, 2020
Submitted by: vmaglio
Region: Pinal County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: John Saba
Verified date: Apr 22, 2020
Observation date: Apr 18, 2020
Submitted by: alicecas
Region: Contra Costa County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Apr 19, 2020
Observation date: Apr 17, 2020
Submitted by: Kbossong
Region: Gallia County, Ohio, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Apr 17, 2020
Observation date: Oct 23, 2019
Submitted by: SFellows
Region: Santa Rosa County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Apr 15, 2020
Observation date: Apr 07, 2020
Submitted by: sarabseth
Region: Contra Costa County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Apr 13, 2020
Observation date: Mar 31, 2020
Submitted by: Carla Griffis
Region: Clay County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Mar 31, 2020
Observation date: Jul 11, 2010
Submitted by: C. West
Region: Shelby County, Indiana, United States
Verified by: Howell_Curtis
Verified date: Mar 29, 2020
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