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.
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Verified Sightings
Displaying 217 - 240 of 318 verified sightings
Observation date: Sep 02, 2012
Submitted by: LLJohnson
Region: Dominican Republic
Verified by: Doug Taron
Verified date: Apr 16, 2013
Observation date: Sep 23, 2012
Submitted by: geneva
Region: Harris County, Texas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Apr 02, 2013
Observation date: Sep 22, 2012
Submitted by: geneva
Region: Harris County, Texas, United States
Verified by: aahewetson
Verified date: Dec 26, 2012
Observation date: Aug 18, 2007
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Karen LeMay)
Region: Cochise County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: Dec 01, 2012
Observation date: Aug 08, 2007
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Bob Steward & Bob Spofford)
Region: Santa Cruz County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: Dec 01, 2012
Observation date: Aug 06, 2007
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Karen LeMay)
Region: Cochise County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: Dec 01, 2012
Observation date: Aug 20, 1996
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (H. Brodkin & R. Bailowitz)
Region: Cochise County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: Dec 01, 2012
Observation date: Oct 03, 2012
Submitted by: Englishman
Region: Hernando County, Florida, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Oct 03, 2012
Observation date: Sep 26, 2008
Submitted by: Lawrence E Gilbert
Region: Texas, Travis County, United States
Verified by: kmortensen
Verified date: Aug 29, 2012
Observation date: Jun 01, 2012
Submitted by: geneva
Region: Harris County, Texas, United States
Verified by: kmortensen
Verified date: Aug 22, 2012
Observation date: Jun 21, 2012
Submitted by: scfl47
Region: Indian River County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Aug 04, 2012
Observation date: Jul 19, 2012
Submitted by: jkbckayaker
Region: Polk County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Aug 04, 2012
Observation date: Jul 25, 2012
Submitted by: jkbckayaker
Region: Polk County, Florida, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Jul 27, 2012
Observation date: Jul 06, 2012
Submitted by: lilian
Region: Volusia County, Florida, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Jul 06, 2012
Observation date: May 19, 2012
Submitted by: jomarlin
Region: Palm Beach County, Florida, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: May 23, 2012
Observation date: Aug 20, 2010
Submitted by: JillS
Region: Hillsborough County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Jan 16, 2012
Observation date: Oct 14, 2011
Submitted by: Real_Images
Region: Hillsborough County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Oct 27, 2011
Observation date: Aug 23, 2011
Submitted by: ADubin
Region: Okeechobee County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Sep 11, 2011
Observation date: Sep 07, 2011
Submitted by: choryoko
Region: Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Sep 11, 2011
Observation date: Nov 05, 2010
Submitted by: sammykeyes9
Region: Martin County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Sep 11, 2011
Observation date: Mar 28, 2011
Submitted by: dmtaggart
Region: Puntarenas, Costa Rica
Verified by: kimgarwood
Verified date: May 25, 2011
Observation date: Apr 22, 2011
Submitted by: Oakland Park House
Region: Broward County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: May 17, 2011
Observation date: Mar 05, 2008
Submitted by: dondubois
Region: Texas, Montgomery County, United States
Verified by: kmortensen
Verified date: Jan 19, 2011
Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: BAMONA (Marian Mendez)
Region: Miami-Dade County, Florida, United States
Verified by: BAMONA
Verified date: Sep 06, 2010
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