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 25 - 48 of 392 verified sightings
Observation date: May 27, 2018
Submitted by: J Rachwalski
Region: British Columbia, Canada
Verified by: Paul Prappas
Verified date: Sep 23, 2022
Observation date: Aug 27, 2022
Submitted by: twofried
Region: Taos County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Aug 30, 2022
Observation date: Nov 01, 2018
Submitted by: Beth Ehlis
Region: Stark County, North Dakota, United States
Verified by: James Steen
Verified date: Jun 09, 2022
Observation date: May 31, 2012
Submitted by: Jonathan Batkin
Region: Santa Fe County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: May 06, 2022
Observation date: Jul 29, 2012
Submitted by: hydapse
Region: Park County, Wyoming, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Feb 05, 2022
Observation date: Jul 25, 2021
Submitted by: Birder2
Region: Sherman County, Oregon, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jul 27, 2021
Observation date: Jul 09, 2021
Submitted by: chalicerae
Region: Manitoba, Canada
Verified by: chalicerae
Verified date: Jul 19, 2021
Observation date: May 09, 2020
Submitted by: jrsygrlmt
Region: Valley County, Montana, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: May 11, 2020
Observation date: May 05, 2014
Submitted by: Dwaine Wagoner
Region: Natrona County, Wyoming, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Jan 08, 2020
Observation date: Aug 18, 2019
Submitted by: Chris Carvalho
Region: Gilliam County, Oregon, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Aug 20, 2019
Observation date: Jul 20, 2019
Submitted by: peskypinto
Region: Yavapai County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: John Saba
Verified date: Jul 22, 2019
Observation date: Jul 18, 2005
Submitted by: hydapse
Region: Carbon County, Montana, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Feb 04, 2019
Observation date: May 25, 2018
Submitted by: Karlissa J
Region: British Columbia, Canada
Verified by: Norbert Kondla
Verified date: Nov 24, 2018
Observation date: Jun 24, 2018
Submitted by: JKlodzen
Region: North Slope, Alaska, United States
Verified by: Norbert Kondla
Verified date: Nov 24, 2018
Observation date: Jul 24, 2018
Submitted by: Arctic Jim
Region: North Slope, Alaska, United States
Verified by: Norbert Kondla
Verified date: Nov 24, 2018
Observation date: Jul 06, 2018
Submitted by: frogbandit
Region: Anchorage, Alaska, United States
Verified by: Norbert Kondla
Verified date: Nov 24, 2018
Observation date: Jun 02, 2018
Submitted by: Robert Gorman
Region: San Bernardino County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Nov 12, 2018
Observation date: Jun 02, 2018
Submitted by: Robert Gorman
Region: San Bernardino County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Oct 09, 2018
Observation date: Jun 02, 2018
Submitted by: Robert Gorman
Region: San Bernardino County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jun 05, 2018
Observation date: Jul 10, 2017
Submitted by: Tom Middagh
Region: Johnson County, Wyoming, United States
Verified by: Tom Middagh
Verified date: Feb 17, 2018
Observation date: Jul 27, 2017
Submitted by: thomass
Region: Montezuma County, Colorado, United States
Verified by: mikefisher
Verified date: Jan 07, 2018
Observation date: May 22, 2017
Submitted by: bobscafe
Region: British Columbia, Canada
Verified by: Norbert Kondla
Verified date: Sep 23, 2017
Observation date: Jun 06, 2017
Submitted by: bttfly9@yahoo.com
Region: Denali, Alaska, United States
Verified by: Norbert Kondla
Verified date: Sep 22, 2017
Observation date: Sep 02, 2017
Submitted by: gasigr
Region: Grant County, Washington, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Sep 06, 2017
- ‹ previous
- 2 of 17
- next ›