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 217 - 240 of 495 verified sightings
Observation date: Jun 07, 1951
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Lloyd Martin)
Region: Los Angeles County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: Jan 05, 2010
Observation date: Jul 02, 1979
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (J. Emmel & O. Shields)
Region: Inyo County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: Jan 05, 2010
Observation date: Jun 15, 1974
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (John F. Emmel)
Region: Inyo County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: Jan 05, 2010
Observation date: May 19, 1962
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Hedges)
Region: San Diego County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: Jan 05, 2010
Observation date: May 09, 1959
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Oakley Shields)
Region: San Diego County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: Jan 05, 2010
Observation date: Jul 04, 1962
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Perkins)
Region: Mono County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: Jan 05, 2010
Observation date: Mar 27, 1961
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Robert L. Langston)
Region: San Diego County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: Jan 05, 2010
Observation date: Jul 14, 1985
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Richard Breedlove)
Region: San Bernardino County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: Jan 05, 2010
Observation date: Jun 17, 1960
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Tom & John Emmel)
Region: Placer County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: Jan 05, 2010
Observation date: Jul 10, 1960
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Tom & John Emmel)
Region: Placer County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: Jan 05, 2010
Observation date: May 25, 1997
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Jack Levy)
Region: Kern County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: Jan 05, 2010
Observation date: May 10, 1922
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (J. A. Comstock)
Region: San Bernardino County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: Jan 04, 2010
Observation date: May 05, 1920
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (J. A. Comstock)
Region: San Bernardino County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: Jan 04, 2010
Observation date: Apr 01, 1951
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Robert Ford)
Region: San Bernardino County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: Dec 17, 2009
Observation date: Oct 10, 1964
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Emmel & Emmel?)
Region: San Bernardino County, California, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier (William H. Howe)
Verified date: Dec 17, 2009
Observation date: May 11, 1991
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (John G. Pasko)
Region: Inyo County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: Dec 17, 2009
Observation date: Jun 16, 1976
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (James Haney)
Region: Inyo County, California, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier (John F. Emmel)
Verified date: Dec 16, 2009
Observation date: May 28, 1970
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Charles Hogue)
Region: Inyo County, California, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier (John F. Emmel)
Verified date: Dec 16, 2009
Observation date: May 07, 1992
Submitted by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Region: Inyo County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: Dec 16, 2009
Observation date: Jun 23, 1962
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (J. W. Tilden)
Region: Mono County, California, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier (Garth & Tilden)
Verified date: Oct 19, 2009
Observation date: Jun 17, 1932
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (J. W. Tilden)
Region: Mariposa County, California, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier (Garth & Tilden)
Verified date: Oct 19, 2009
Observation date: Jul 16, 1960
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Oakley Shields)
Region: Tuolumne County, California, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier (Garth & Tilden)
Verified date: Oct 19, 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: Oct 19, 2009
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
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