Pipevine Swallowtail
Battus philenor (Linnaeus, 1771)
Family: Papilionidae
Subfamily: Papilioninae
Identification: Upper surface of hindwing iridescent blue or blue-green. Underside of hindwing with submarginal row of 7 round orange spots in iridescent blue field.
Wing Span: 2 3/4 - 5 inches (7 - 13 cm).
Life History: Adult males patrol likely habitat in search of receptive females. Females lay batches of eggs on underside of host plant leaves. Caterpillars feed in small groups when young but become solitary when older. Wintering is by the chrysalis.
Flight: In the East and California, adults fly primarily in late spring (though as early as late February or March) and summer, but the butterfly is commoner in late summer and fall in the South and Southwest. Where lack of freezing temperatures permit, adults ma
Caterpillar Hosts: Pipevines (Aristolochia species), including Aristolochia californica, A. serpentaria and others.
Adult Food: Solely nectar from flowers including thistles (Cirsium species), bergamot, lilac, viper's bugloss, common azaleas, phlox, teasel, azaleas, dame's-rocket, lantana, petunias, verbenas, lupines, yellow star thistle, California buckeye, yerba santa, brodiaeas, and gilias.
Habitat: A wide variety of open habitats, open woodland, and woodland edges.
Range: Rare stray to Canada (s. Manitoba). Tropical lowlands south to southern Mexico.
Conservation: Normally not of high conservation concern, although states at northern limits have listed under state law. These listings are of dubious value where species is not a permanent resident.
NCGR: G5 - Demonstrably secure globally, though it may be quite rare in parts of its range, especially at the periphery.
Management Needs: Management of habitats to ensure survival of host plant colonies is the only possible concern.
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Verified Sightings
Displaying 49 - 72 of 4435 verified sightings
Observation date: May 11, 2024
Submitted by: jrmbutterfly
Region: Texas, Nueces County, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: May 12, 2024
Observation date: May 05, 2024
Submitted by: TomObrock
Region: Sevier County, Tennessee, United States
Verified by: James Steen
Verified date: May 10, 2024
Observation date: May 03, 2024
Submitted by: Sue Bocchicchio
Region: Guadalupe County, Texas, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: May 07, 2024
Observation date: May 03, 2024
Submitted by: speele
Region: Pickens County, South Carolina, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: May 05, 2024
Observation date: Apr 29, 2024
Submitted by: Arden K. Powell
Region: Texas, Uvalde County, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: May 05, 2024
Observation date: Apr 26, 2024
Submitted by: jlk78745
Region: Texas, Travis County, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: May 04, 2024
Observation date: Apr 29, 2024
Submitted by: jrmbutterfly
Region: Texas, Nueces County, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: May 01, 2024
Observation date: Apr 26, 2024
Submitted by: jrmbutterfly
Region: Texas, San Patricio County, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Apr 29, 2024
Observation date: Apr 24, 2024
Submitted by: Lisa McClendon
Region: Cape Girardeau County, Missouri, United States
Verified by: CA Ivy
Verified date: Apr 26, 2024
Observation date: Apr 20, 2024
Submitted by: Cactuswren1976
Region: Hidalgo County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Apr 25, 2024
Observation date: Apr 24, 2024
Submitted by: Mikelchap
Region: Glynn County, Georgia, United States
Verified by: Mikelchap
Verified date: Apr 24, 2024
Observation date: Mar 14, 2024
Submitted by: Bob Patton
Region: Johnson County, Arkansas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Apr 07, 2024
Observation date: Jul 05, 2016
Submitted by: tiki33wv
Region: Pocahontas County, West Virginia, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Apr 05, 2024
Observation date: Mar 22, 2024
Submitted by: mcvaugh
Region: Sacramento County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Mar 31, 2024
Observation date: Mar 16, 2024
Submitted by: tjay13
Region: Hidalgo County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Mar 23, 2024
Observation date: Mar 02, 2024
Submitted by: pamelmmc
Region: Aransas County, Texas, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Mar 12, 2024
Observation date: Jul 07, 2009
Submitted by: Charlie Doggett
Region: Davidson County, Tennessee, United States
Verified by: Charlie Doggett
Verified date: Feb 29, 2024
Observation date: Jul 07, 2010
Submitted by: Charlie Doggett
Region: Morgan County, Tennessee, United States
Verified by: Charlie Doggett
Verified date: Feb 29, 2024
Observation date: Aug 23, 2013
Submitted by: Charlie Doggett
Region: Davidson County, Tennessee, United States
Verified by: Charlie Doggett
Verified date: Feb 29, 2024
Observation date: Oct 01, 2023
Submitted by: Rick Sinnott
Region: Davidson County, Tennessee, United States
Verified by: James Steen
Verified date: Jan 25, 2024
Observation date: Oct 03, 2023
Submitted by: Rick Sinnott
Region: Davidson County, Tennessee, United States
Verified by: James Steen
Verified date: Jan 25, 2024
Observation date: Sep 30, 2023
Submitted by: Rick Sinnott
Region: Davidson County, Tennessee, United States
Verified by: James Steen
Verified date: Jan 24, 2024
Observation date: Dec 22, 2023
Submitted by: MECobarruvias
Region: Texas, Nueces County, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Dec 22, 2023
Observation date: Nov 09, 2023
Submitted by: kleigh
Region: Bastrop County, Texas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Nov 24, 2023
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