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 121 - 144 of 404 verified sightings
Observation date: Jul 23, 1968
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Clifford D. Ferris)
Region: Apache County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: Jan 01, 2011
Observation date: Jul 04, 1984
Submitted by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Region: Coconino County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: Jan 01, 2011
Observation date: Jul 24, 2011
Submitted by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Region: Yavapai County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: Jan 01, 2011
Observation date: Jun 08, 1973
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Ronald S. Wielgus)
Region: Coconino County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: Jan 01, 2011
Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: paulopler (Paul Opler)
Region: United States
Verified by: BAMONA
Verified date: Sep 06, 2010
Observation date: Jun 28, 1981
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Wayne Dawes)
Region: San Bernardino County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: Mar 09, 2010
Observation date: Jun 06, 1981
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Wayne Dawes)
Region: San Bernardino County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: Mar 09, 2010
Observation date: Jul 08, 1979
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Wayne Dawes)
Region: San Bernardino County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: Mar 09, 2010
Observation date: Jul 04, 1979
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Wayne Dawes)
Region: San Bernardino County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: Mar 09, 2010
Observation date: Jul 29, 1966
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Hamilton Tyler)
Region: San Bernardino County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: Jan 25, 2010
Observation date: Jun 19, 1977
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Bruce O'Hara)
Region: San Bernardino County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: Jan 07, 2010
Observation date: Jul 17, 1977
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Bruce O'Hara)
Region: San Bernardino County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: Jan 07, 2010
Observation date: Jul 18, 1976
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Wayne Dawes)
Region: San Bernardino County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: Jan 07, 2010
Observation date: Jul 04, 1976
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Wayne Dawes)
Region: San Bernardino County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: Jan 07, 2010
Observation date: Jun 15, 1968
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (R. Breedlove, J. Mori)
Region: San Bernardino County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: Jan 06, 2010
Observation date: Jul 14, 1985
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Richard Breedllove)
Region: San Bernardino County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: Jan 05, 2010
Observation date: Aug 04, 1907
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (J. A. Comstock)
Region: San Bernardino County, California, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier (J. A. Comstock)
Verified date: Jan 04, 2010
Observation date: Jun 14, 1979
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: Jun 13, 1994
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: Aug 07, 1957
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Chris Henne)
Region: San Bernardino County, California, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier (Emmel & Emmel)
Verified date: Aug 10, 2009
Observation date: Jun 15, 1985
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: Jun 13, 1994
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: Jun 24, 1978
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: Jun 15, 1985
Submitted by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Region: San Bernardino County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: Aug 10, 2009
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