Indra Swallowtail
Papilio indra Reakirt, 1866
Family: Papilionidae
Subfamily: Papilioninae
Identification: Abdomen is all black, or black with a yellow dash on the side of the rear. Wings are mostly black with pale yellow markings. Tails are very short on most subspecies.
Wing Span: 2 1/2 - 3 inches (6.2 - 7.2 cm).
Life History: Males watch from rocky areas below tops of hills or mesas for receptive females. Females lay eggs singly on top of host plant leaves or on flowers. Caterpillars feed on the edges of leaves and hide at the base of plants. Chrysalids hibernate.
Flight: One flight, with occasional late-flying individuals of desert populations, March-August.
Caterpillar Hosts: Aromatic herbs of the parsley family (Apiaceae) growing among rocks.
Adult Food: Flower nectar.
Habitat: Mountains, desert mountains, and canyons.
Range: Southern California, Nevada, Arizona, New Mexico north to South Dakota, west to Washington.
Conservation: Several subspecies occur entirely or primarily on Federal lands. These include kaibabensis (Grand Canyon National Park), minori (Colorado National Monument and B.L.M.), panamintensis (Death Valley National Monument), and martini (Mojave Desert National Preserve).
NCGR: G5 - Demonstrably secure globally, though it may be quite rare in parts of its range, especially at the periphery.
Management Needs: Prevent removal of caterpillar host plants from public lands. Limit collection by permits.
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Verified Sightings
Displaying 1 - 24 of 482 verified sightings
Observation date: Jun 02, 2023
Submitted by: hiker96
Region: Klickitat County, Washington, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Jun 03, 2023
Observation date: May 21, 2022
Submitted by: scott ellis
Region: Uintah County, Utah, United States
Verified by: James Steen
Verified date: Feb 11, 2023
Observation date: Aug 03, 2022
Submitted by: stevecary
Region: Taos County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Aug 15, 2022
Observation date: Jun 22, 2022
Submitted by: abstractfrog
Region: Valley County, Idaho, United States
Verified by: stevekohler
Verified date: Aug 10, 2022
Observation date: Jul 09, 2022
Submitted by: Pheasantboy77
Region: Gallatin County, Montana, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Jul 11, 2022
Observation date: May 01, 2022
Submitted by: weflybye
Region: Klickitat County, Washington, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: May 04, 2022
Observation date: Jun 07, 2015
Submitted by: dlister
Region: Mono County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jan 24, 2022
Observation date: Aug 08, 2021
Submitted by: twofried
Region: Taos County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Aug 09, 2021
Observation date: Jun 23, 2021
Submitted by: Rccarlson64
Region: Chelan County, Washington, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Jun 25, 2021
Observation date: May 31, 2021
Submitted by: Zach Eckert
Region: Kittitas County, Washington, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Jun 03, 2021
Observation date: May 24, 2021
Submitted by: davidwdroppers
Region: Okanogan County, Washington, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: May 25, 2021
Observation date: Apr 29, 2021
Submitted by: glennfine
Region: Shasta County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: May 19, 2021
Observation date: May 02, 2021
Submitted by: dkaralun
Region: San Bernardino County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: May 04, 2021
Observation date: Apr 23, 2021
Submitted by: flatus
Region: Klickitat County, Washington, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Apr 27, 2021
Observation date: Apr 21, 2021
Submitted by: glennfine
Region: Shasta County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Apr 25, 2021
Observation date: Apr 21, 2021
Submitted by: glennfine
Region: Shasta County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Apr 25, 2021
Observation date: Apr 06, 2021
Submitted by: Gary Charlton
Region: Los Angeles County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Apr 10, 2021
Observation date: Jul 29, 2019
Submitted by: Todd Stefanic
Region: Butte County, Idaho, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Dec 15, 2020
Observation date: Jul 09, 2020
Submitted by: Bixia
Region: California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jul 28, 2020
Observation date: May 17, 2013
Submitted by: hiker96
Region: Washington, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Jul 26, 2020
Observation date: Jul 20, 2019
Submitted by: aulljon
Region: California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jul 15, 2020
Observation date: May 29, 2020
Submitted by: A_baldini
Region: Larimer County, Colorado, United States
Verified by: A_baldini
Verified date: Jun 06, 2020
Observation date: May 05, 2020
Submitted by: Birder2
Region: Sherman County, Oregon, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: May 12, 2020
Observation date: Jun 25, 2008
Submitted by: Dwaine Wagoner
Region: Natrona County, Wyoming, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Jan 08, 2020
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