Old World Swallowtail
Papilio machaon Linnaeus, 1758
Family: Papilionidae
Subfamily: Papilioninae
Identification: Upperside of hindwing near tail has reddish-orange eyespot with black along lower border touching inner edge of hindwing or at least not a centered eyespot.
Wing Span: 2 1/2 - 3 inches (6.5 - 7.5 cm).
Life History: Females lay eggs singly on the host plant, and newly-hatched caterpillars eat the leaves. Older caterpillars feeding on plants of the parsley family prefer to eat the flowers. Chrysalids overwinter.
Flight: In north, one flight in late May-July; two flights in south.
Caterpillar Hosts: Sagebrushes (Artemisia species), including Arctic wormwood and wild tarragon, rarely plants in the parsley family.
Adult Food: Flower nectar.
Habitat: Open hilltops, mountain meadows, tundra.
Range: Holarctic. In North America, south from Alaska to northern British Colombia, east across Canada to western Quebec. Southern British Colombia south through New Mexico. Comments: Includes , P. oregonius and P. bairdii.
Conservation: Not noted as of concern, but is rare or uncommon.
NCGR: G5 - Demonstrably secure globally, though it may be quite rare in parts of its range, especially at the periphery.
Management Needs: None noted.
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Verified Sightings
Displaying 1 - 24 of 395 verified sightings
Observation date: Sep 25, 2024
Submitted by: Chris Carvalho
Region: Sherman County, Oregon, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Apr 25, 2025
Observation date: Jun 16, 2024
Submitted by: shuckabone
Region: Denali, Alaska, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Oct 07, 2024
Observation date: Jun 06, 2024
Submitted by: James F Parker
Region: Southeast Fairbanks, Alaska, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Oct 07, 2024
Observation date: Jun 09, 2024
Submitted by: Dogoszhi
Region: Bernalillo County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Jun 10, 2024
Observation date: Jul 22, 2023
Submitted by: J_Martineau
Region:
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Dec 20, 2023
Observation date: May 28, 2023
Submitted by: Gordon Phillips
Region: British Columbia, Canada
Verified by: Paul Prappas
Verified date: Nov 12, 2023
Observation date: Aug 14, 2017
Submitted by: Stefan Kreitmeier
Region: Utah, United States
Verified by: James Steen
Verified date: Sep 18, 2023
Observation date: Jul 30, 2017
Submitted by: dingoqueen
Region: Box Elder County, Utah, United States
Verified by: James Steen
Verified date: Sep 03, 2023
Observation date: Jul 29, 2023
Submitted by: twofried
Region: Taos County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Jul 30, 2023
Observation date: Jun 22, 2023
Submitted by: katiefouse
Region: Teton County, Wyoming, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Jul 20, 2023
Observation date: Jul 19, 2023
Submitted by: Doug Backlund
Region: Harding County, South Dakota, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Jul 20, 2023
Observation date: Jul 02, 2023
Submitted by: Birder2
Region: Sherman County, Oregon, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jul 12, 2023
Observation date: Jun 11, 2023
Submitted by: williamharmonlds
Region: McKinley County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Jun 24, 2023
Observation date: May 01, 2023
Submitted by: HeadHunterCowboy
Region: Klickitat County, Washington, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: May 02, 2023
Observation date: Aug 16, 2020
Submitted by: Smvindigni
Region: Anchorage, Alaska, United States
Verified by: Paul Prappas
Verified date: Feb 10, 2023
Observation date: May 19, 2006
Submitted by: mothman@telus.net
Region: Alberta, Canada
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Feb 08, 2023
Observation date: Jul 04, 2018
Submitted by: chherrmann
Region: Valdez-Cordova, Alaska, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Feb 08, 2023
Observation date: Jul 08, 2016
Submitted by: NikkiM
Region: Denali, Alaska, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Feb 08, 2023
Observation date: Jul 01, 2020
Submitted by: jsaunders260
Region: Matanuska-Susitna, Alaska, United States
Verified by: Paul Prappas
Verified date: Feb 07, 2023
Observation date: Jun 05, 2021
Submitted by: frogbandit
Region: Anchorage, Alaska, United States
Verified by: Paul Prappas
Verified date: Feb 07, 2023
Observation date: Jul 16, 2020
Submitted by: Arctic Jim
Region: Matanuska-Susitna, Alaska, United States
Verified by: Paul Prappas
Verified date: Feb 07, 2023
Observation date: Jul 08, 2020
Submitted by: Robert Gibson
Region: Valdez-Cordova, Alaska, United States
Verified by: Paul Prappas
Verified date: Feb 07, 2023
Observation date: May 23, 2020
Submitted by: Rick Sinnott
Region: Anchorage, Alaska, United States
Verified by: Paul Prappas
Verified date: Feb 07, 2023
Observation date: Jul 04, 2019
Submitted by: Two Shoes
Region: Skagway, Alaska, United States
Verified by: Paul Prappas
Verified date: Feb 07, 2023
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