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.
Please donate!
We depend on donations to keep Butterflies and Moths of North America freely available. We want to express our gratitude to all who showed their support by making a contribution this year. You can donate to support this project at any time.
Advertise with us!
Do you have a product or service that you think would interest BAMONA users? If you would like to advertise on this website, contact us by email, or use the contact form and select the "Advertising" category.
Verified Sightings
Displaying 193 - 216 of 318 verified sightings
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: 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: 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
Observation date: Jan 11, 2014
Submitted by: LLJohnson
Region: Dominican Republic
Verified by: Doug Taron
Verified date: Jan 13, 2014
Observation date: Dec 23, 2013
Submitted by: therman1105
Region: Palm Beach County, Florida, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Dec 23, 2013
Observation date: Nov 03, 2013
Submitted by: jacobsjd
Region: Orange County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Dec 04, 2013
Observation date: Oct 31, 2013
Submitted by: aaronm
Region: Brevard County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Dec 04, 2013
Observation date: Sep 23, 2013
Submitted by: Gary The Villages
Region: Sumter County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Sep 30, 2013
Observation date: Aug 17, 2013
Submitted by: michaeloberg
Region: Orange County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Aug 18, 2013
Observation date: Jul 11, 2013
Submitted by: ridgeboy
Region: Polk County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Jul 31, 2013
Observation date: Jun 27, 2013
Submitted by: Mardiles
Region: Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Jul 07, 2013
Observation date: May 29, 2013
Submitted by: John van Dort
Region: Comayagua, Honduras
Verified by: John van Dort
Verified date: Jun 01, 2013
Observation date: Apr 30, 2013
Submitted by: Sandy White
Region: Lee County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: May 09, 2013
Observation date: May 02, 2013
Submitted by: bkacker@bellsou...
Region: Broward County, Florida, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: May 07, 2013
- ‹ previous
- 9 of 14
- next ›