Polydamas Swallowtail
Battus polydamas (Linnaeus, 1758)
Family: Papilionidae
Subfamily: Papilioninae
Identification: Lacks tails. Black above with submarginal yellow band.
Wing Span: 3 1/2 - 4 1/2 inches (9 - 12 cm).
Life History: Female lays eggs in groups of 10-14 on exposed new stems or growing tips of vines. Caterpillars feed in groups when young. Overwinter as chrysalids.
Flight: Two-3 flights from April-November.
Caterpillar Hosts: Pipevines (Aristolochia species).
Adult Food: Nectar of lantana. Occasionally seen feeding on honeysuckle and soapweed flowers.
Habitat: Open woods, abandoned fields, disturbed areas.
Range: South Texas and peninsular Florida south to Argentina. Strays north to Kentucky and Missouri.
Conservation: None noted.
NCGR: G5 - Demonstrably secure globally, though it may be quite rare in parts of its range, especially at the periphery.
Management Needs: Manage habitat for caterpillar host plant and nectar sources.
Comments: NULL
Verified Sightings
Displaying 1 - 24 of 182 verified sightings
Observation date: May 19, 2019
Submitted by: Daviboy
Region: Broward County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: May 19, 2019
Observation date: Apr 27, 2019
Submitted by: Tammypager
Region: Palm Beach County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Apr 28, 2019
Observation date: Apr 27, 2019
Submitted by: therapypetz
Region: Broward County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Apr 27, 2019
Observation date: Jun 18, 2016
Submitted by: UseppaButterfly
Region: Lee County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Mar 29, 2019
Observation date: Feb 16, 2019
Submitted by: Frankca
Region: Broward County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Feb 16, 2019
Observation date: Feb 04, 2019
Submitted by: paulette1501
Region: Collier County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Feb 12, 2019
Observation date: Feb 12, 2019
Submitted by: paulette1501
Region: Collier County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Feb 12, 2019
Observation date: Dec 08, 2018
Submitted by: Elizabeth Wolfe
Region: Lee County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Jan 20, 2019
Observation date: Nov 25, 2018
Submitted by: Elizabeth Wolfe
Region: Lee County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Jan 20, 2019
Observation date: Nov 05, 2018
Submitted by: Jeff Trahan
Region: Hidalgo County, Texas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Nov 25, 2018
Observation date: Nov 06, 2018
Submitted by: hiker96
Region: Hidalgo County, Texas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Nov 21, 2018
Observation date: Nov 04, 2018
Submitted by: Jeff Trahan
Region: Hidalgo County, Texas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Nov 21, 2018
Observation date: Oct 02, 2014
Submitted by: Dennis Forsythe
Region: Okeechobee County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Nov 13, 2018
Observation date: Oct 11, 2018
Submitted by: therapypetz
Region: Broward County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Oct 24, 2018
Observation date: Sep 01, 2018
Submitted by: Bleem
Region: St. Lucie County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Sep 01, 2018
Observation date: Jul 16, 2018
Submitted by: Bixia
Region: Brevard County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Aug 21, 2018
Observation date: Jul 18, 2018
Submitted by: Bixia
Region: Volusia County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Aug 21, 2018
Observation date: Jun 02, 2018
Submitted by: therapypetz
Region: Broward County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Aug 07, 2018
Observation date: Aug 06, 2018
Submitted by: LakeCountyFL
Region: Lake County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Aug 07, 2018
Observation date: Aug 06, 2018
Submitted by: jvarol
Region: Alachua County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Aug 07, 2018
Observation date: Aug 01, 2018
Submitted by: AJVanh.arch
Region: Martin County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Aug 02, 2018
Observation date: Jul 18, 2018
Submitted by: lilkriskattn
Region: Palm Beach County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Jul 24, 2018
Observation date: Jul 15, 2018
Submitted by: Shellseakr
Region: Pinellas County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Jul 20, 2018
Observation date: Jul 18, 2018
Submitted by: mellielong
Region: Hillsborough County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Jul 20, 2018
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