Indra Swallowtail
Papilio indra Reakirt, 1866
Family: Papilionidae
Subfamily: Papilioninae
Identification: Abdomen is all black, or black with a yellow dash on the side of the rear. Wings are mostly black with pale yellow markings. Tails are very short on most subspecies.
Wing Span: 2 1/2 - 3 inches (6.2 - 7.2 cm).
Life History: Males watch from rocky areas below tops of hills or mesas for receptive females. Females lay eggs singly on top of host plant leaves or on flowers. Caterpillars feed on the edges of leaves and hide at the base of plants. Chrysalids hibernate.
Flight: One flight, with occasional late-flying individuals of desert populations, March-August.
Caterpillar Hosts: Aromatic herbs of the parsley family (Apiaceae) growing among rocks.
Adult Food: Flower nectar.
Habitat: Mountains, desert mountains, and canyons.
Range: Southern California, Nevada, Arizona, New Mexico north to South Dakota, west to Washington.
Conservation: Several subspecies occur entirely or primarily on Federal lands. These include kaibabensis (Grand Canyon National Park), minori (Colorado National Monument and B.L.M.), panamintensis (Death Valley National Monument), and martini (Mojave Desert National Preserve).
NCGR: G5 - Demonstrably secure globally, though it may be quite rare in parts of its range, especially at the periphery.
Management Needs: Prevent removal of caterpillar host plants from public lands. Limit collection by permits.
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Verified Sightings
Displaying 49 - 72 of 490 verified sightings
Observation date: May 19, 2017
Submitted by: Melanie Weiss
Region: Yakima County, Washington, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: May 24, 2017
Observation date: Apr 24, 2017
Submitted by: diwalks2@gmail.com
Region: San Diego County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Apr 25, 2017
Observation date: Feb 07, 1964
Submitted by: Todd Stefanic
Region: Butte County, Idaho, United States
Verified by: stevekohler
Verified date: Sep 20, 2016
Observation date: Jun 07, 2016
Submitted by: Pleek
Region: British Columbia, Canada
Verified by: Norbert Kondla
Verified date: Jul 19, 2016
Observation date: Jun 30, 2015
Submitted by: Kristie Nelson
Region: Mono County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jul 01, 2015
Observation date: May 31, 2015
Submitted by: dagasch
Region: Deschutes County, Oregon, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jun 10, 2015
Observation date: May 27, 2014
Submitted by: Sue Orlowski
Region: Douglas County, Washington, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Jun 22, 2014
Observation date: May 30, 2009
Submitted by: rosenthal.k
Region: Jefferson County, Colorado, United States
Verified by: mikefisher
Verified date: Feb 16, 2014
Observation date: Jul 28, 2013
Submitted by: randimal
Region: Pierce County, Washington, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Aug 02, 2013
Observation date: May 20, 2012
Submitted by: Ethan Hall
Region: Cache County, Utah, United States
Verified by: RaisingButterfl...
Verified date: Dec 20, 2012
Observation date: Jun 01, 1992
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (John B. Vernon)
Region: Humboldt County, Nevada, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: Dec 01, 2012
Observation date: Apr 19, 2066
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (J. F. Lesser)
Region: Clark County, Nevada, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: Dec 01, 2012
Observation date: Jun 18, 1983
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (George T. Austin)
Region: Mineral County, Nevada, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: Dec 01, 2012
Observation date: Apr 21, 1979
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (George T. Austin)
Region: Clark County, Nevada, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: Dec 01, 2012
Observation date: Jun 25, 2068
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (JF Emmel-O. Shields)
Region: Clark County, Nevada, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: Dec 01, 2012
Observation date: May 10, 1988
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (JR Mori)
Region: Douglas County, Nevada, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: Dec 01, 2012
Observation date: Jul 06, 2062
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (George T. Austin)
Region: Clark County, Nevada, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: Dec 01, 2012
Observation date: May 15, 1981
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Wayne Dawes)
Region: Clark County, Nevada, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: Dec 01, 2012
Observation date: Jun 30, 1987
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (George T. Austin)
Region: Washoe County, Nevada, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: Dec 01, 2012
Observation date: Jun 17, 1978
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Doug Mullins)
Region: Clark County, Nevada, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: Dec 01, 2012
Observation date: Jun 19, 1983
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (George T. Austin)
Region: Mineral County, Nevada, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: Dec 01, 2012
Observation date: Apr 24, 1977
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (George T. Austin)
Region: Clark County, Nevada, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: Dec 01, 2012
Observation date: Jun 29, 2063
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Kilian Roever)
Region: Clark County, Nevada, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: Dec 01, 2012
Observation date: May 16, 1990
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (George T. Austin)
Region: Churchill County, Nevada, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: Dec 01, 2012
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