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.
Get your BAMONA Gear!
Please donate!
We depend on donations to keep Butterflies and Moths of North America freely available. We want to express our gratitude to all who showed their support by making a contribution this year. You can donate to support this project at any time.
Advertise with us!
Do you have a product or service that you think would interest BAMONA users? If you would like to advertise on this website, contact us by email, or use the contact form and select the "Advertising" category.
Verified Sightings
Displaying 49 - 72 of 391 verified sightings
Observation date: Jul 29, 2017
Submitted by: teachsci
Region: Douglas County, Nebraska, United States
Verified by: kking216
Verified date: Aug 14, 2017
Observation date: Jul 22, 2017
Submitted by: plex1ppus
Region: Grant County, Washington, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Aug 03, 2017
Observation date: Aug 01, 2017
Submitted by: meckhardt
Region: Douglas County, Nebraska, United States
Verified by: kking216
Verified date: Aug 02, 2017
Observation date: Aug 04, 2016
Submitted by: Sue Orlowski
Region: Whitman County, Washington, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Aug 24, 2016
Observation date: May 28, 2016
Submitted by: frogbandit
Region: Anchorage, Alaska, United States
Verified by: Norbert Kondla
Verified date: Jul 19, 2016
Observation date: Jul 08, 2016
Submitted by: Zach Eckert
Region: Kittitas County, Washington, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Jul 09, 2016
Observation date: Jun 22, 2016
Submitted by: John Wilson
Region: Socorro County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Jul 01, 2016
Observation date: Jun 30, 2015
Submitted by: bobscafe
Region: British Columbia, Canada
Verified by: Norbert Kondla
Verified date: Feb 11, 2016
Observation date: Jun 30, 2015
Submitted by: bobscafe
Region: British Columbia, Canada
Verified by: Norbert Kondla
Verified date: Feb 11, 2016
Observation date: Aug 02, 2015
Submitted by: bobscafe
Region: British Columbia, Canada
Verified by: Norbert Kondla
Verified date: Aug 16, 2015
Observation date: Jul 06, 2015
Submitted by: Sue Orlowski
Region: Lincoln County, Washington, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Jul 15, 2015
Observation date: Jul 05, 2015
Submitted by: Sue Orlowski
Region: Lincoln County, Washington, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Jul 11, 2015
Observation date: Jun 28, 2015
Submitted by: Paul Prappas
Region: Okanogan County, Washington, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Jul 11, 2015
Observation date: Jun 27, 2015
Submitted by: janazak
Region: Northwest Territories, Canada
Verified by: rosslayberry
Verified date: Jul 06, 2015
Observation date: Jun 07, 2015
Submitted by: alchem30
Region: Saskatchewan, Canada
Verified by: alchem30
Verified date: Jun 18, 2015
Observation date: Jul 17, 2014
Submitted by: janazak
Region: Yukon Territory, Canada
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Aug 27, 2014
Observation date: Aug 21, 2014
Submitted by: matthewjcampbell
Region: Walla Walla County, Washington, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Aug 27, 2014
Observation date: Jun 22, 2014
Submitted by: janazak
Region: Yukon Territory, Canada
Verified by: Norbert Kondla
Verified date: Jun 26, 2014
Observation date: Jun 04, 2014
Submitted by: Waskeyroad
Region: Dillingham, Alaska, United States
Verified by: Norbert Kondla
Verified date: Jun 15, 2014
Observation date: May 15, 2014
Submitted by: plex1ppus
Region: Lincoln County, Washington, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: May 27, 2014
Observation date: Sep 05, 2013
Submitted by: COA1955
Region: Morgan County, Colorado, United States
Verified by: mikefisher
Verified date: Dec 08, 2013
Observation date: Jun 26, 2013
Submitted by: LJodwalis
Region: Yukon-Koyukuk, Alaska, United States
Verified by: Norbert Kondla
Verified date: Jul 20, 2013
Observation date: Jul 30, 1987
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (William S. Swisher)
Region: Coconino County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: Dec 01, 2012
Observation date: Jun 15, 2040
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (unknown)
Region: Clark County, Nevada, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: Dec 01, 2012
- ‹ previous
- 3 of 17
- next ›