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 137 verified sightings
Observation date: Jun 21, 2017
Submitted by: Christinah
Region: Sarasota County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Jun 22, 2017
Observation date: Aug 17, 2016
Submitted by: geraldswegner
Region: Indian River County, Florida, United States
Verified by: geraldswegner
Verified date: Feb 23, 2017
Observation date: Feb 04, 2017
Submitted by: mellielong
Region: Pasco County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Feb 15, 2017
Observation date: Nov 05, 2016
Submitted by: jgiroux
Region: Hidalgo County, Texas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Nov 12, 2016
Observation date: Jul 24, 2016
Submitted by: jakester322
Region: Broward County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Jul 24, 2016
Observation date: Jul 05, 2016
Submitted by: jakester322
Region: Broward County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Jul 24, 2016
Observation date: Jun 26, 2016
Submitted by: totonka
Region: Broward County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Jul 19, 2016
Observation date: May 23, 2016
Submitted by: ncrosbyrd
Region: Miami-Dade County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: May 27, 2016
Observation date: Nov 21, 2015
Submitted by: Sue Allie
Region: Lake County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Dec 31, 2015
Observation date: Nov 27, 2015
Submitted by: ColoradEO
Region: Lee County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Dec 03, 2015
Observation date: Aug 18, 2015
Submitted by: mellielong
Region: Hillsborough County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Aug 21, 2015
Observation date: Feb 03, 2015
Submitted by: Ron Smith
Region: Pinellas County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Jul 26, 2015
Observation date: May 02, 2015
Submitted by: mellielong
Region: Hillsborough County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: May 06, 2015
Observation date: Apr 30, 2015
Submitted by: mellielong
Region: Sarasota County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: May 06, 2015
Observation date: May 02, 2015
Submitted by: mellielong
Region: Hillsborough County, Florida, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: May 05, 2015
Observation date: Mar 15, 2015
Submitted by: LLJohnson
Region: Dominican Republic
Verified by: M. Reith
Verified date: Apr 06, 2015
Observation date: Jan 01, 2015
Submitted by: Tony Woodall
Region: Palm Beach County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Jan 21, 2015
Observation date: Jan 07, 2015
Submitted by: pepito12810
Region: Palm Beach County, Florida, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Jan 07, 2015
Observation date: Jul 23, 2014
Submitted by: jg030955
Region: Broward County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Jul 25, 2014
Observation date: Jul 25, 2014
Submitted by: hunter58
Region: Pasco County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Jul 25, 2014
Observation date: Jul 09, 2014
Submitted by: ailurozoo
Region: Orange County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Jul 15, 2014
Observation date: Jun 15, 2014
Submitted by: Teresa Jacobs
Region: Dominican Republic
Verified by: Doug Taron
Verified date: Jul 03, 2014
Observation date: Jun 08, 2014
Submitted by: John van Dort
Region: Francisco Morazán, Honduras
Verified by: John van Dort
Verified date: Jun 08, 2014
Observation date: Feb 12, 2014
Submitted by: Doug Taron
Region: Jalisco, Mexico
Verified by: Doug Taron
Verified date: Feb 21, 2014
- 1 of 6
- next ›