Polydamas Swallowtail
Battus polydamas (Linnaeus, 1758)
Family: Papilionidae
Subfamily: Papilioninae
Identification: Lacks tails. Black above with submarginal yellow band.
Wing Span: 3 1/2 - 4 1/2 inches (9 - 12 cm).
Life History: Female lays eggs in groups of 10-14 on exposed new stems or growing tips of vines. Caterpillars feed in groups when young. Overwinter as chrysalids.
Flight: Two-3 flights from April-November.
Caterpillar Hosts: Pipevines (Aristolochia species).
Adult Food: Nectar of lantana. Occasionally seen feeding on honeysuckle and soapweed flowers.
Habitat: Open woods, abandoned fields, disturbed areas.
Range: South Texas and peninsular Florida south to Argentina. Strays north to Kentucky and Missouri.
Conservation: None noted.
NCGR: G5 - Demonstrably secure globally, though it may be quite rare in parts of its range, especially at the periphery.
Management Needs: Manage habitat for caterpillar host plant and nectar sources.
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Verified Sightings
Displaying 73 - 96 of 302 verified sightings
Observation date: Apr 19, 2022
Submitted by: Ron Stauber
Region: Palm Beach County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Apr 19, 2022
Observation date: Oct 17, 2021
Submitted by: Birdwatcher5
Region: Volusia County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Apr 03, 2022
Observation date: Mar 19, 2022
Submitted by: Rick Newman
Region: Palm Beach County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Mar 22, 2022
Observation date: Jun 26, 2010
Submitted by: Deb Peterson
Region: Charlotte County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Mar 08, 2022
Observation date: Jul 01, 2020
Submitted by: Deb Peterson
Region: Charlotte County, Florida, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Mar 01, 2022
Observation date: Oct 18, 2021
Submitted by: princessmarilyn
Region: Harris County, Texas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Oct 26, 2021
Observation date: Oct 24, 2021
Submitted by: Casemar
Region: Citrus County, Florida, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Oct 24, 2021
Observation date: Jun 08, 2019
Submitted by: Mark Salvato
Region: Miami-Dade County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Sep 29, 2021
Observation date: Mar 02, 2019
Submitted by: Mark Salvato
Region: Miami-Dade County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Sep 29, 2021
Observation date: Jan 01, 2020
Submitted by: Mark Salvato
Region: Indian River County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Sep 07, 2021
Observation date: Aug 06, 2021
Submitted by: Shupa980
Region: Indian River County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Aug 07, 2021
Observation date: Jun 17, 2021
Submitted by: therapypetz
Region: Broward County, Florida, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Jun 20, 2021
Observation date: Mar 13, 2021
Submitted by: DVL
Region: Collier County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Apr 28, 2021
Observation date: Apr 10, 2018
Submitted by: DVL
Region: Lee County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Mar 31, 2021
Observation date: Apr 10, 2018
Submitted by: DVL
Region: Lee County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Mar 31, 2021
Observation date: Sep 27, 2020
Submitted by: rhubarbara
Region: Brevard County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Sep 28, 2020
Observation date: Sep 24, 2020
Submitted by: ezettler
Region: Alachua County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Sep 25, 2020
Observation date: Sep 08, 2020
Submitted by: Voyager6331
Region: Pinellas County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Sep 08, 2020
Observation date: Aug 28, 2020
Submitted by: rstalnaker
Region: Seminole County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Aug 28, 2020
Observation date: Aug 25, 2020
Submitted by: therapypetz
Region: Broward County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Aug 26, 2020
Observation date: Aug 17, 2020
Submitted by: Moobamoo
Region: Clay County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Aug 18, 2020
Observation date: Aug 15, 2020
Submitted by: eroutside
Region: Broward County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Aug 16, 2020
Observation date: Aug 12, 2020
Submitted by: kye
Region: Highlands County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Aug 13, 2020
Observation date: Jul 25, 2020
Submitted by: jdaitken
Region: Polk County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Aug 10, 2020
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