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 97 - 120 of 4435 verified sightings
Observation date: Aug 02, 2023
Submitted by: jwilkinson
Region: Washington County, Maryland, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Aug 03, 2023
Observation date: Aug 01, 2023
Submitted by: ButterBelle
Region: Putnam County, Tennessee, United States
Verified by: James Steen
Verified date: Aug 01, 2023
Observation date: Jul 20, 2023
Submitted by: Steven Wilson
Region: Allegany County, Maryland, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Jul 21, 2023
Observation date: Jul 09, 2023
Submitted by: heather-russell
Region: Guilford County, North Carolina, United States
Verified by: Dennis Forsythe
Verified date: Jul 16, 2023
Observation date: Jun 30, 2023
Submitted by: hasfitz5
Region: Tehama County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jul 15, 2023
Observation date: Jul 10, 2023
Submitted by: RoxannaTessman
Region: Jackson County, Oregon, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jul 12, 2023
Observation date: Jul 08, 2023
Submitted by: zbeckb
Region: Lawrence County, Indiana, United States
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Jul 08, 2023
Observation date: Jul 08, 2023
Submitted by: ButterBelle
Region: Putnam County, Tennessee, United States
Verified by: James Steen
Verified date: Jul 08, 2023
Observation date: Jun 28, 2023
Submitted by: jwilkinson
Region: Anne Arundel County, Maryland, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Jun 29, 2023
Observation date: Jun 08, 2023
Submitted by: snakeowl
Region: Fulton County, Georgia, United States
Verified by: Mikelchap
Verified date: Jun 26, 2023
Observation date: Sep 30, 2022
Submitted by: Ed Rothwell
Region: Berrien County, Michigan, United States
Verified by: elsner
Verified date: Jun 26, 2023
Observation date: Aug 11, 2018
Submitted by: Vicki b787
Region: Marquette County, Michigan, United States
Verified by: elsner
Verified date: Jun 26, 2023
Observation date: May 28, 2023
Submitted by: Ericha
Region: Macon County, Alabama, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Jun 22, 2023
Observation date: May 09, 2021
Submitted by: sasd
Region: Bexar County, Texas, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Jun 19, 2023
Observation date: Apr 30, 2023
Submitted by: CFreeman
Region: Placer County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jun 15, 2023
Observation date: Jul 24, 2021
Submitted by: Stephen Craig
Region: Christian County, Missouri, United States
Verified by: CA Ivy
Verified date: Jun 11, 2023
Observation date: Apr 09, 2022
Submitted by: hsmarshall
Region: Orleans Parish, Louisiana, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: May 25, 2023
Observation date: May 07, 2023
Submitted by: ktnbcn
Region: Beauregard Parish, Louisiana, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: May 25, 2023
Observation date: May 22, 2006
Submitted by: Russ Wigh
Region: Chatham County, Georgia, United States
Verified by: Mikelchap
Verified date: May 22, 2023
Observation date: Jun 24, 2006
Submitted by: Russ Wigh
Region: Chatham County, Georgia, United States
Verified by: Mikelchap
Verified date: May 22, 2023
Observation date: May 04, 2023
Submitted by: asombro_institute
Region: Doña Ana County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: May 06, 2023
Observation date: Apr 17, 2023
Submitted by: Dobber31
Region: Sonoma County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Apr 20, 2023
Observation date: Apr 09, 2023
Submitted by: Tommie Rogers
Region: Polk County, Tennessee, United States
Verified by: James Steen
Verified date: Apr 19, 2023
Observation date: Apr 16, 2023
Submitted by: Tom Dudones
Region: Maricopa County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: John Saba
Verified date: Apr 18, 2023
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