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 241 - 264 of 496 verified sightings
Observation date: May 07, 1960
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (J. W. Tilden)
Region: San Diego County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: Oct 15, 2009
Observation date: Apr 01, 1951
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Robert J. Ford)
Region: San Bernardino County, California, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier (Emmel & Emmel)
Verified date: Aug 27, 2009
Observation date: May 16, 2009
Submitted by: davidwdroppers (David Droppers)
Region: Chelan County, Washington, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers (David Droppers)
Verified date: Aug 21, 2009
Observation date: Jun 21, 1988
Submitted by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Region: Inyo County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: Aug 18, 2009
Observation date: May 13, 2006
Submitted by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Region: Inyo County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: Aug 17, 2009
Observation date: May 02, 1980
Submitted by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Region: San Bernardino County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: Aug 10, 2009
Observation date: May 10, 1997
Submitted by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Region: Inyo County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: Aug 10, 2009
Observation date: Jul 18, 1933
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (A. Carthew)
Region: Mariposa County, California, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier (Garth & Tilden)
Verified date: Aug 10, 2009
Observation date: May 01, 1981
Submitted by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Region: Kern County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: Aug 10, 2009
Observation date: May 20, 1997
Submitted by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Region: Mono County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: Aug 10, 2009
Observation date: May 07, 2001
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Jack Levy)
Region: Kern County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: Aug 10, 2009
Observation date: Jun 11, 1996
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Bruce & Bret Boyd)
Region: Mono County, California, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier (George T. Austin)
Verified date: Aug 10, 2009
Observation date: Jul 04, 1998
Submitted by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Region: Tulare County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: Aug 10, 2009
Observation date: Apr 08, 1983
Submitted by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Region: San Bernardino County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: Aug 10, 2009
Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (L. Martin & C. Ingham)
Region: Fresno County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: Aug 10, 2009
Observation date: Jul 03, 1972
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Jim Brock)
Region: Kern County, California, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier (Emmel & Emmel)
Verified date: Aug 10, 2009
Observation date: Aug 13, 1970
Submitted by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Region: Mono County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: Aug 10, 2009
Observation date: May 21, 1988
Submitted by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Region: Kern County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: Aug 10, 2009
Observation date: Jun 08, 1996
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Bruce & Bret Boyd)
Region: Mono County, California, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier (George T. Austin)
Verified date: Aug 10, 2009
Observation date: Jul 10, 1982
Submitted by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Region: Tulare County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: Aug 10, 2009
Observation date: Mar 18, 1962
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (John F. Emmel)
Region: San Bernardino County, California, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier (Jemmel & Emmel)
Verified date: Aug 10, 2009
Observation date: Mar 14, 1980
Submitted by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Region: San Bernardino County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: Aug 10, 2009
Observation date: Mar 14, 1987
Submitted by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Region: San Bernardino County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: Aug 10, 2009
Observation date: May 23, 1992
Submitted by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Region: Mariposa County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: Aug 10, 2009
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