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 145 - 168 of 404 verified sightings
Observation date: Jul 05, 1966
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (George Crouchet)
Region: San Bernardino County, California, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier (Emmel & Emmel)
Verified date: Aug 10, 2009
Observation date: Jul 16, 2006
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Tristan Ereth)
Region: Sheridan County, Montana, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier (Steve Kohler')
Verified date: Mar 13, 2009
Observation date: Jul 08, 2008
Submitted by: stevekohler (Steve Kohler)
Region: Powell County, Montana, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier (Steve Kohler')
Verified date: Mar 13, 2009
Observation date: Apr 30, 2008
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Riley Shay)
Region: Cheyenne County, Kansas, United States
Verified by: paulopler (Paul Opler)
Verified date: Jul 21, 2008
Observation date: May 24, 1994
Submitted by: stevekohler (Steve Kohler)
Region: Richland County, Montana, United States
Verified by: stevekohler (Steve Kohler)
Verified date: Jan 29, 2008
Observation date: Jul 12, 2006
Submitted by: stevekohler (Steve Kohler)
Region: Roosevelt County, Montana, United States
Verified by: stevekohler (Steve Kohler)
Verified date: Jan 29, 2008
Observation date: Jul 24, 2004
Submitted by: stevekohler (Steve Kohler)
Region: Granite County, Montana, United States
Verified by: stevekohler (Steve Kohler)
Verified date: Jan 29, 2008
Observation date: Jun 01, 2007
Submitted by: stevekohler (Steve Kohler)
Region: Park County, Montana, United States
Verified by: stevekohler (Steve Kohler)
Verified date: Jan 29, 2008
Observation date: Jun 13, 1995
Submitted by: stevekohler (Steve Kohler)
Region: Meagher County, Montana, United States
Verified by: stevekohler (Steve Kohler)
Verified date: Jan 29, 2008
Observation date: Jun 06, 2006
Submitted by: stevekohler (Steve Kohler)
Region: Beaverhead County, Montana, United States
Verified by: stevekohler (Steve Kohler)
Verified date: Jan 29, 2008
Observation date: Jun 27, 2003
Submitted by: stevekohler (Steve Kohler)
Region: Yellowstone County, Montana, United States
Verified by: stevekohler (Steve Kohler)
Verified date: Jan 29, 2008
Observation date: May 09, 2007
Submitted by: stevekohler (Steve Kohler)
Region: Jefferson County, Montana, United States
Verified by: stevekohler (Steve Kohler)
Verified date: Jan 29, 2008
Observation date: Jul 11, 2005
Submitted by: stevekohler (Steve Kohler)
Region: Rosebud County, Montana, United States
Verified by: stevekohler (Steve Kohler)
Verified date: Jan 29, 2008
Observation date: May 20, 1993
Submitted by: stevekohler (Steve Kohler)
Region: Powder River County, Montana, United States
Verified by: stevekohler (Steve Kohler)
Verified date: Jan 29, 2008
Observation date: Jul 11, 2006
Submitted by: stevekohler (Steve Kohler)
Region: Fallon County, Montana, United States
Verified by: stevekohler (Steve Kohler)
Verified date: Jan 29, 2008
Observation date: Jun 30, 2004
Submitted by: stevekohler (Steve Kohler)
Region: Broadwater County, Montana, United States
Verified by: stevekohler (Steve Kohler)
Verified date: Jan 29, 2008
Observation date: May 09, 2007
Submitted by: stevekohler (Steve Kohler)
Region: Deer Lodge County, Montana, United States
Verified by: stevekohler (Steve Kohler)
Verified date: Jan 29, 2008
Observation date: May 19, 1993
Submitted by: stevekohler (Steve Kohler)
Region: Carter County, Montana, United States
Verified by: stevekohler (Steve Kohler)
Verified date: Jan 29, 2008
Observation date: Jul 15, 2005
Submitted by: stevekohler (Steve Kohler)
Region: Stillwater County, Montana, United States
Verified by: stevekohler (Steve Kohler)
Verified date: Jan 29, 2008
Observation date: Jun 20, 2004
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (KWP)
Region: Southeast Fairbanks, Alaska, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier (Lepidopterists' Society Season Summary)
Verified date: Jan 23, 2008
Observation date: Jul 07, 2006
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (YU)
Region: North Slope, Alaska, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier (Lepidopterists' Society Season Summary)
Verified date: Jan 23, 2008
Observation date: Jun 30, 1998
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (ALS)
Region: Yukon-Koyukuk, Alaska, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier (Lepidopterists' Society Season Summary)
Verified date: Jan 23, 2008
Observation date: Jun 28, 1995
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (F/P)
Region: Northwest Arctic, Alaska, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier (Lepidopterists' Society Season Summary)
Verified date: Jan 23, 2008
Observation date: Jun 24, 1999
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (JLH)
Region: North Slope, Alaska, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier (Lepidopterists' Society Season Summary)
Verified date: Jan 23, 2008
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